Barrett Introduces Fourth Aviation Safety Bill in Response to 2025 Potomac River Crash

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today introduced the Safety in Shared Skies Act (H.R.8072), his fourth bill aimed at preventing tragedies like the January 2025 Potomac River crash between an Army helicopter and a commercial jet. Specifically, the legislation would require the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out system in every military aircraft to be tested and serviced every 90 days. The ADS-B Out system transmits data about the aircraft's location to other aircraft and air traffic control.

"The families of the 67 people killed in the Potomac River crash deserve to know that we are doing everything in our power to make sure something like this never happens again," said Barrett. "The Black Hawk helicopter in that accident had malfunctioning software and hadn't transmitted ADS-B data in more than two years. This is unacceptable - especially considering how often military aircraft share airspace with commercial flights. My bill will require regular testing to make sure the system works, and I will keep pushing until we close every safety gap and loophole to keep American troops and travelers safe."

The Safety in Shared Skies Act builds on Barrett's first three bills in response to the Potomac River Crash. The Military Helicopter Training Safety Act was signed into law in December 2025 and began the process of equipping military helicopters with traffic collision avoidance systems, as well as the ADS-B In system, which received data from ADS-B Out systems on other aircraft. In January of this year, Barrett introduced the Military ADS-B Out Loophole Act, which would prevent military helicopter pilots from turning off ADS-B Out transmissions during non-sensitive portions of flight missions, as well as the Next-Gen Collision Avoidance Assistance Act to advance the deployment of the next generation of anti-crash technology in civilian and military aircraft.

Click here to read the full bill text.

Click here to read Barrett's op-ed on the importance of the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act being signed into law.