Cruz Reveals Cause of False Traffic Alerts

Texas senator says slew of false TCAS alerts near Reagan National was caused by government testing.

Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM ET

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Aircraft at Reagan National Airport [Shutterstock/Ceri Breeze]

Key Takeaways:

False traffic alerts near Reagan National Airport on March 1 were attributed by Senator Ted Cruz to the Secret Service and U.S. Navy improperly testing counter-drone technology, using frequencies that interfered with aircraft collision avoidance systems despite prior FAA warnings.
These false alerts caused urgent collision warnings for multiple commercial aircraft, alarming pilots and raising significant safety concerns, especially as they occurred shortly after a fatal midair collision near the same airport that killed 67 people.
The Secret Service denied Senator Cruz's allegations, stating they did not conduct drone system testing in the National Capital Region on March 1 and coordinate with the FAA to ensure their systems do not interfere with air traffic operations.

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New details have emerged about false traffic alerts that occurred near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. During a Senate hearing on Thursday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said the alerts were caused by Secret Service and U.S. Navy activity.

Cruz stated that these alerts stemmed from the two agencies “improperly” testing counter-drone technology near the airport on March 1.