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 alerts on March 1, prompting urgent warnings to pilots.
Senator Ted Cruz alleged these alerts were caused by the Secret Service and U.S. Navy improperly testing counter-drone technology using the same frequency band as aircraft collision systems, despite prior FAA warnings.
The incident is particularly concerning as it occurred shortly after a fatal midair collision near KDCA, an airport already facing high rates of loss-of-separation occurrences.
The Secret Service has denied Cruz's claims, stating they did not conduct drone system testing in the region on March 1 and coordinate with the FAA to prevent 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.