Six Years Since Lockhart Balloon Tragedy: FAA Still Fails to Implement Doggett's Safety Law in Their Memory

Press Release

Tomorrow, we will mark six years since 16 lives were lost in the Lockhart hot air balloon crash--when a pilot flying under the influence crashed into a power line, leaving no survivors. This was the deadliest commercial balloon crash in our history, and the worst aviation disaster in America since 2009. For years following the crash, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve balloon safety by implementing a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation to mandate medical certificates for commercial pilots, since the NTSB found that the FAA's refusal to require balloon operators to obtain a medical certificate contributed to the crash on July 30, 2016.

Even after Rep. Doggett secured a law in memory of those lost in 2018 with this requirement, the FAA has yet to implement the Doggett amendment, exposing more to death. Last September, four passengers died in Albuquerque

after an impaired pilot crashed a balloon into power lines.

"The FAA just continues to delay and delay, even after this requirement was written into a law, which was explicit," said Congressman Doggett. "The FAA ignored safety experts, ignored bipartisan requests for action, and so we finally passed a law--and they have ignored that. Action by this unresponsive bureaucracy to stop the unnecessary carnage is more than six years overdue."

"It's inconceivable that an agency would approach this acute safety issue with such a spirit of indifference. The FAA should issue the final rule tomorrow. Passage of my passenger safety bill was the result of the dedicated work of the families and all who petitioned for this belated action. For the many who prayed and mourned the loss resulting from this unnecessary tragedy, know that you have been heard. We cannot bring these precious lives back. But, when this measure is finally implemented, we hope no more families will be exposed to the horror of a crash from an impaired pilot."

The FAA belatedly began the rulemaking process in November 2021 but has not yet issued a final rule.

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