US senator seeks safety reforms after fatal collision between Army helicopter, regional jet

FILE PHOTO: Air Traffic Control Tower can be seen at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz said on Tuesday he will propose broad air safety legislation after a collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in January near Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people.

The legislation would require the use of ADS-B, an advanced aircraft-tracking technology, by U.S. Army helicopters near civilian planes, mandate a review of helicopter routes across the country and require the Army inspector general to review “systemic breakdowns” that may have contributed to the fatal collision, Cruz said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese)