WATCH: This tech could have averted the D.C. plane crash. Why won’t Congress support it?

This week, ahead of the State of the Union, the ROTOR Act failed to pass in the House of Representatives. The bill was crafted after last January’s mid-air crash between a landing American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter on a training flight in Washington D.C. 67 people were killed. The bill would have closed a loophole that allows military aircraft to fly without broadcasting their locations, and requires all aircraft to have systems receive location broadcasts from other planes and helicopters.

Led by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, the bill had passed in the Senate, and was on a fast-track process to pass the House and head to President Trump’s desk for a signature. But, the bill failed to reach a 2/3rds majority following a late reversal of support from the Pentagon.  Families of those killed on American Airlines Flight 5242 watched in the House gallery in disbelief.

Lisa Desjardins and Tim McPhillips break down the ROTOR Act, and why it didn’t succeed, and what might come to replace it.

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