Kansas lawmakers push FAA safety overhaul 1 year after deadly midair crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas lawmakers are pushing sweeping aviation safety reforms, one year after a midair collision killed 67 people.

U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have each introduced bipartisan bills aimed at modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration.

The legislators say both bills were inspired, in part, by the January 2025 crash of American Airlines Flight 5342.

The Crash That Prompted Action

On Jan. 29, 2025, Flight 5342 departed Wichita bound for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C.

As the plane approached its destination, it collided midair with a military training helicopter.

All 67 people aboard both aircraft were killed - 60 passengers, 2 pilots, 2 flight attendants and 3 military crew members.

Davids’ ALERT Act

Davids says she helped introduce the ALERT Act, bipartisan legislation designed to modernize aviation safety systems and reduce the risk of future midair collisions.

“There isn’t a single person in Kansas who wasn’t touched in some way by this horrific tragedy,” said Davids. “When lives are lost in a preventable accident, Congress has a responsibility to act.”

The bill is informed by recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, she notes.

According to the Congresswoman, the legislation would address airspace congestion, communication failures, outdated collision-avoidance systems and coordination between civilian and military aircraft.

Key provisions of the ALERT Act include:

• Upgraded collision-warning systems - Directs the FAA to evaluate and implement advanced collision-avoidance technology on commercial aircraft, with a timeline for deployment
• Stronger air traffic controller training - Creates expert working groups to modernize training standards and improve real-time hazard identification tools
• Improved airspace communication - Studies technology to detect “blocked transmissions,” which occur when overlapping radio messages cause critical information to be lost
• Airspace congestion review - Requires the FAA to assess safe arrival and departure rates at congested airports and review aircraft spacing requirements
• Enhanced military aviation safety - Requires closer coordination between the Department of Defense and the FAA, and strengthens helicopter safety management in shared airspace

Moran’s Aviation Innovation Act

Sen. Moran says he joined colleagues to introduce the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, bipartisan legislation.

The Senator notes that the bill is focused on improving the FAA’s certification process for next-generation aircraft - including electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, a growing sector of the aerospace industry.

“Streamlining FAA type certification processes for advanced aviation technologies like advanced air mobility will help to strengthen America’s global leadership in aviation innovation,” Moran says.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Standard certification timelines - Establishes expected timeframes for the FAA’s type certification process for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft, reducing uncertainty and delays for manufacturers
• Transparent review windows - Sets clear timelines for the issue paper process so applicants know how long reviews will take
• Defined certification triggers - Directs the FAA to clarify when an issue paper is required, while preserving flexibility on complex safety issues
• Congressional reporting requirements - Directs the FAA to report to relevant committees on certification workload and implementation progress
• Updated delegation guidance - Clarifies when the FAA can delegate routine compliance findings to qualified personnel, freeing agency experts to focus on safety-critical issues, and updates guidance to cover new technologies, including eVTOL aircraft

Kansas’ Aviation Legacy

Davids says aviation is central to Kansas’ economy and identity. Known as the Air Capital of the World, Kansas is home to major manufacturers, suppliers and a highly skilled aerospace workforce.

She notes that this gives the state a direct stake in how the FAA regulates both safety and innovation.