Relations of D.C. aircraft crash victims push for aviation security reform amid authorities shutdown

Rachel Feres misplaced 4 members of her household within the lethal aircraft crash close to Washington, D.C., earlier this yr. She stated that within the aftermath of the crash, flying won’t ever be the identical for her, and the authorities shutdown gave her pause when she got here to Capitol Hill this week to advocate for security reforms.

“I belief that everybody who’s going to work is doing their best to maintain us protected, however that is simply not a practical approach to govern,” she informed CBS Information. “We deserve higher than this. We deserve that our important methods, our transportation methods, keep open and that the parents who’re chargeable for preserving these protected are paid on time and that that does not turn into a soccer.”

Amid efforts in Congress to reform the nation’s aviation system, Feres and different victims’ relations have been assembly with lawmakers and Jennifer Homendy, chair of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board. Feres’ cousin Peter Livingston, his spouse Donna and daughters Alydia and Everly died when an Military Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Eagle flight over the Potomac River in January.

“Our message has been that aviation security reform issues,” Feres stated. “It issues to the American individuals. It is a nonpartisan concern. That is an American concern, and all of us should know that after we or our family members get on a aircraft, we get off once more on the opposite aspect.”

Feres and different victims’ relations met with Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and the panel’s high Democrat, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington state.

“I’ve a number of confidence within the members on each side of the aisle who’re working onerous to make sure that this stays a high precedence, however I feel anytime, clearly, the federal government is shut down, we all know that infrastructure initiatives are delayed and we all know that the members of the federal government who’re on the job, who’re TSA brokers and air visitors controllers, will not be getting paid, and that is a priority for all of us.”

The NTSB’s investigation into January’s crash is ongoing.

The Black Hawk helicopter was flying with no piece of kit turned on that permits the plane to be tracked. The navy has a waiver that primarily exempts it from having to make use of the tools.

In July, Cruz launched laws that might require all plane to make use of the tools, generally known as Computerized Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast, or ADS-B.

A spokesperson for Cruz stated in an announcement to CBS Information that he is been working with the victims’ households on the invoice since January.

“The Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Reform Act represents an vital step ahead in aviation security reform by requiring that each one plane, navy and civilian, use each ADS-B Out and ADS-B In and seeks to carry the Military accountable for failures which will have contributed to the crash,” the spokesperson stated. “He’s dedicated to making sure one other accident doesn’t occur once more.”