​​Aviation A​​ccidents​

​​In 1996, the United States Congress enacted the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act (Title 49 U.S.C. sections 1136 and 41113), which charged ​the NTSB, an NTSB-designated non-profit disaster relief organization, and the domestic air carrier involved in the accident with assisting survivors and families of those involved. In 1997, the U.S. Congress enacted the Foreign Air Carrier Family Support Act (Title 49 U.S.C. section 41313) to require foreign air carriers operating flights to and from the United States and territories to provide similar assistance and resources.

• ​​​49 USC 1136: NTSB and Designated Organization Responsibilities​​
  
• 49 USC 41313: Foreign​ Air Carrier Responsibilities
  
• 49 USC 41113: Domestic Air Carrier Responsibilities ​​

Federal Family Assistance Legislation

This legislation applies to aviation accidents within U.S. airspace or airspace delegated to the U.S. resulting in any loss of life for which the NTSB will serve as the lead investigative agency involving:​

• ​A domestic air carrier holding a Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity (CPCN) issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): DOT Certificated Air Carriers List
  
• A foreign air carrier with economic authority issued by the DOT 

​Information for Affected Air Carriers

The following documents are intended for domestic air carriers holding a CPCN and foreign air carriers with economic authority issued by the DOT to assist them with family assistance operations and planning efforts:

• Contact Listing Form​
• ​Family Assistan​ce Supplemental Information Form​​

Passenger List & Manifest Distribution 

​Affected air carriers and the response community should contact the NTSB assistance@ntsb​.gov​.​ with questions related to the distribution of information on passenger lists following an aviation accident. 

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Fede​ral Family Assistance Framework for Aviation Disasters

​The NTSB is responsible for coordinating federal government resources to support local, state, and tribal governments, disaster relief organizations, and the air carrier to meet the needs of families after aviation disasters in accordance with 49 USC § 1136​.

The NTSB relies on support from federal partners to meet its family assistance obligations. The NTSB Federal Family Assistance Framework for Aviation Disasters identifies family support tasks that facilitate the collaborative interagency response to those needs. 

• ​​NTSB Federal Family Assistance Framework for Aviation Disasters​
  

Visit the NTSB’s Family Assistance Resources to learn more about partner organizations.​

For questions related to the federal family assistance legislation and the NTSB Federal Family Assistance Framework for Aviation Disasters, please contact us at assistance@ntsb.gov.

Visit our TDA Operations Planning, Preparedness, and Training page to learn more.​

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Updated May 1, 2025 ​​​​​