Another Deadly Plane Collision Could Occur in D.C., Safety Official Warns, in Fight with Lawmakers Over Pending Bill

The National Transportation Safety Board went public this week with a warning of potential catastrophe in America’s skies if Congress passes a change to aviation regulations as part of a pending military spending bill. Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Dec. 10, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called it a “significant safety setback” — even as lawmakers on Capitol Hill insist that the well-being of American fliers is a key priority and that the new provision would actually reduce the risk of harm and increase oversight. The conflict between the NTSB and Congress was sparked by language in the National Defense Authorization Act that, in Homebody’s view, would undo a key reform implemented in the wake of a mid-air collision in January between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet just outside Washington, D.C.