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:

Commercial aircraft near Reagan National Airport (KDCA) received false traffic collision alerts on March 1, which Senator Ted Cruz attributed to the Secret Service and U.S. Navy "improperly" testing counter-drone technology that interfered with aircraft systems.
This incident, for which the FAA had previously issued warnings regarding spectrum interference, occurred just over a month after a fatal midair collision near a D.C. airport, highlighting significant air safety concerns.
The Secret Service has denied Senator Cruz's allegations, stating they did not conduct drone system testing in the National Capital Region on March 1 and actively coordinate with the FAA to prevent system interference.

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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.