National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

NTSB designates an independent nonprofit organization with disaster-response experience to deliver emotional, psychological, and family support services. The organization meets with passengers and families at the accident site, contacts families who cannot travel, creates private grieving spaces, maintains regular contact until assistance is no longer needed, and helps facilitate a suitable memorial service in consultation with the families. This is required by 49 U.S.C. 1136(a)(2) and 49 U.S.C. 1139(a)(2).

TDA is the NTSB division that serves as the federal point of contact for families of victims killed or injured in major transportation accidents. TDA specialists provide investigative updates, coordinate with carriers and local authorities, help families navigate the investigative process, and connect families with emotional and psychological support through a designated independent family assistance organization. TDA covers aviation, rail, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials accidents.

Call the Transportation Disaster Assistance Division at 1-800-683-9369 or (202) 314-6185, or email assistance@ntsb.gov. Include the accident date, location, carrier, victim's name, and your relationship to the victim. For accidents not yet reported to NTSB, call the 24/7 Response Operations Center at 1-844-373-9922 — though carriers and operators are usually the parties required to make that report.

NTSB investigates major accidents in aviation, rail, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials transportation. Not every accident is investigated — NTSB launches based on severity, complexity, and safety significance. The TDA program activates for accidents NTSB investigates, with full statutory family-assistance requirements applying to aviation (49 U.S.C. 1136) and passenger rail (49 U.S.C. 1139).

Yes. Under 49 U.S.C. 1136(e) and 1139(e), NTSB must brief families of victims about the accident, its causes, and any other findings, prior to any public briefing. Families also receive individual notice of and access to NTSB proceedings on the accident. Your assigned TDA specialist coordinates these briefings and answers questions throughout the investigation, which typically takes 12 to 24 months.

NTSB and the designated family assistance organization coordinate with the carrier and local authorities to recover, catalog, and return personal effects to families. Procedures vary by accident. Your TDA specialist handles the coordination — contact TDA at 1-800-683-9369 or assistance@ntsb.gov if you have questions about personal effects.

No. Victim identification is the responsibility of the local medical examiner or coroner with jurisdiction over the accident site. NTSB does not perform identification, but your TDA specialist helps families navigate the identification process and coordinates with the medical examiner's office.

NTSB investigations typically take 12 to 24 months from launch to final report, though complex investigations can take longer. Your TDA specialist remains available throughout the investigation to provide updates, answer questions, and coordinate any additional needs. You can request investigative updates at any time using the NTSB TDA Investigative Update Request Form or by contacting your specialist directly.