NTSB Issues BPRS Warning for First Responders

Agency releases alert about explosion risks from undeployed Ballistic Parachute Recovery Systems at crash sites.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

NTSB logo and image [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Ballistic Parachute Recovery Systems (BPRS) pose significant hazards to first responders at aircraft crash sites due to the undeployed rocket used for parachute deployment.
The NTSB advises first responders to approach cautiously, identify warning labels, avoid areas where the rocket could exit, and refrain from cutting activation cables or touching the cockpit's T-handle to prevent accidental deployment.
Upon identifying a BPRS, first responders must immediately contact the NTSB's 24/7 Response Operations Center for assistance from manufacturers in safely disarming the system.
Additional hazards include fire potentially activating the rocket and a deployed parachute still attached to wreckage causing the aircraft to drag in windy conditions.

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A Ballistic Parachute Recovery System (BPRS) is a fancy name for a parachute attached to an aircraft that can save lives when there is an uncommanded loss of engine power or the aircraft enters a spin. But on the ground, the undeployed BPRS can be dangerous due to the rocket that fires to deploy the parachute.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Aviation Safety has released a new safety alert—On-Scene Hazards of Ballistic Parachute Recovery Systems—to help pilots and first responders recognize and address the potential danger.