Wyden, Merkley Push FAA to Implement Emergency Safety Regulations Following Deadly Helicopter Crash

Wyden, Merkley Push FAA to Implement Emergency Safety Regulations Following Deadly Helicopter Crash

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explain what it's doing now to prevent another deadly helicopter crash like the one last month in Arizona that killed four Oregonians.

"While a thorough investigation is necessary to develop comprehensive, data-based recommendations, it's clear that immediate action must be taken to prevent another similar tragedy," the senators wrote in their letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "As the investigation proceeds, we urge you to continue working closely with the NTSB and promptly adopt initial safety suggestions they may have based on their preliminary findings."

On January 2, 2026 a helicopter carrying four family members from Oregon struck a slackline suspended across Telegraph Canyon in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. Everyone on board was killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its initial findings from its investigation into the crash on January 21, 2026. The full investigation could take over a year to complete. As a result, Wyden and Merkley pressed the FAA over what immediate actions could be taken to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specifically, they asked:

1. Please describe how the FAA currently regulates slackline visibility and notifications for pilots.
2. In light of this tragic helicopter crash, what are you doing to ensure awareness of existing FAA regulations regarding marking and notifications of obstructions? How will you work with other agencies and organizations to share these policies?
3. Are you considering any immediate adjustments to FAA policies in order to increase the physical marking or visibility of slacklines? Are there any options the FAA could explore related to the standardized marking, lighting, or other visual measures that would allow slacklines to be more easily identified by pilots during both daytime and nighttime operations?
4. Will the FAA consider implementing a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over slacklines as a precautionary and interim measure until the NTSB issues final recommendations? What factors does the FAA consider in making TFR determinations?

The full letter can be found here.