NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-21-045
Recommendation
TO AIRLINES FOR AMERICA, THE NATIONAL AIR CARRIER ASSOCIATION, AND THE REGIONAL AIRLINE ASSOCIATION: Coordinate with your member airlines to develop and implement a program to increase child restraint system (CRS) usage in airplanes; this effort should include collecting data to determine the program’s effectiveness at increasing CRS usage.
Safety Issue and Context
Turbulence-related accidents are the most common type of accident involving air carriers operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121. From 2009 through 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that turbulence-related accidents accounted for more than a third of all Part 121 accidents; most of these accidents resulted in one or more serious injuries but no aircraft damage.
This NTSB safety research report examines the prevalence and risk factors of turbulence-related accidents in Part 121 air carrier operations; assesses the effectiveness of policies, programs, technologies, and other applicable safety countermeasures; and makes recommendations for improving turbulence avoidance and injury mitigation.
Response History
September 22, 2025 · Recipient Response · Airlines for America (formerly Air Transport Association of America, Inc.)
-From Justin W. Madden, Vice President, Safety and Technical Operations, Airlines for America: I am writing in response to your correspondence to Airlines for America, dated July 10, 2025,regarding child restraint systems (CRS).
The safety of our passengers and crew members is always the top priority for A4A and our member carriers-which also applies to our youngest passengers. While the FAA, which is responsible for setting: the acceptable level .of safety for; the traveling public, has not required children under the age of two to be seated separately in a CRS, we recognize that the choice for purchasing a seat for children under the age of two is up to the parent or guardian.
We believe that together with the FAA we can provide parents and guardians with important information to assist them in making an informed decision. To that end, we have published on our public facing website the following:
Safety of our passengers and crew members is the top priority for A4A and our member carriers-and that applies to our youngest passengers, especially those under the age of two. A4A and our passenger carriers support the recommendation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that strongly urges travelers to secure children under two in an approved child restraint system (CRS) for the entirety of a flight. For additional information, travelers are encouraged to read their individual carrier's policies and recommendations in addition to the FAAs guidance on child safety (Flying with Children Federal Aviation Administration).
Moreover, we continue working with our member carriers to collect data regarding the number of children under the age of two who have flown since 2022 in our effort to determine whether such additional messaging by the association and member passenger carriers has a meaningful effect on a parent's or guardian’s decision to increase CRS usage for children under the age of two.
In addition, while the FAA itself has chosen not to require children under the age of two to be seated separately in a CRS based on its past analysis of the associated risks of traveling ·on the nation's highways, the agency nonetheless has provided additional information to the traveling public to include the following: