ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — The tragic midair collision over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in January 2025 claimed 67 lives and has since sparked a critical examination of airspace safety around Washington, D.C.

In response to the disaster, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, on his first day in office, banned most helicopter traffic along Helicopter Route 4, a path perilously close to incoming and outgoing airplanes.

Despite a $12 billion investment in a 21st-century air traffic control system, experts like former pilot Steve Scheibner argue that more needs to be done, advocating for modern communication methods like texting instructions to pilots.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy presides over the NTSB fact-finding hearing on the DCA midair collision accident, at the National Transportation and Safety Board boardroom, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Amy Hunter and Laura Augendre, who lost family members in the collision, have become vocal advocates for the ROTOR Act, which aims to close safety loopholes for military helicopters.

The Senate has passed the act, and the pair is now urging the House to follow suit to prevent future tragedies.

"We don’t want this to become just an anniversary story," they said, emphasizing the ongoing risk to millions of air travelers.