Jennifer Homendy Rips ‘Watered-Down’ Aviation Bill After Deadly DC Crash — Urges Immediate Action

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy is back in the spotlight after forcefully condemning a House aviation-safety proposal that she calls “watered-down” and misleading, arguing it fails to address the 50 recommendations the NTSB issued following last year’s deadly mid-air collision near Washington that killed 67 people. Speaking in a combative Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Homendy said lawmakers are “using the pain” of grieving families to advance a bill that lets business jets and smaller aircraft dodge life-saving Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In (ADS-B In) equipment, technology the NTSB has urged since 2008. The House ALERT Act would merely order the FAA to study tougher standards, while the competing Senate ROTOR Act mandates ADS-B In on virtually every aircraft. Victims’ relatives have vowed to fight the House version unless it adopts the stricter Senate language. Homendy’s criticism extends beyond Congress. Earlier this year she chastised both the FAA and the Pentagon for a “pattern of miscommunication” that has left military crews routinely silencing locator beacons, a lapse she says contributed to the Potomac River crash and continues to endanger civilian flights. She urged lawmakers to bar the military from deactivating tracking systems during stateside training unless national security demands it. Key takeaways for travelers and the industry • Mandatory ADS-B In: Homendy insists every passenger and cargo aircraft carry both “Out” and “In” components so cockpits can see nearby traffic in real time. • Faster rulemaking: The NTSB wants Congress to require the FAA to publish final rules within two years, not launch an open-ended study. • Accountability measures: Homendy is pressing for quarterly public progress reports and an independent technical review panel that includes accident-victim families. Why it matters now Airlines have logged a record number of runway incursions and near misses over the past 18 months. Safety advocates warn that without cockpit-based traffic alerts the next incident could mirror the 2025 Washington disaster. The NTSB chair’s high-profile rebuke, combined with emotional testimony from families, is galvanizing bipartisan senators who say they will re-introduce the ROTOR Act if the House stalls. What’s next House Transportation and Infrastructure leaders say a markup could come within weeks, but insiders expect fierce behind-the-scenes lobbying from general-aviation groups opposed to universal ADS-B In. Homendy has signaled she will keep the pressure on, telling reporters, “Half-measures won’t save lives. Congress has a choice—either close this loophole or be prepared to answer for the next tragedy.” Search interest in “Jennifer Homendy” has surged as the debate intensifies, underscoring how one outspoken safety chief has become the public face of America’s effort to prevent another catastrophic mid-air collision.