The U.S. government acknowledged on Wednesday that both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army were involved in the midair collision that occurred last January near Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of 67 individuals, making it the deadliest crash on American soil in over twenty years.
In response to the initial lawsuit filed by a victim’s family, the government admitted partial liability for the crash, citing a violation of procedures by the air traffic controller on duty that night. The filing also attributed fault to the Army helicopter pilots for failing to maintain proper vigilance to avoid the approaching airline jet, thereby implicating the government.
However, the lawsuit implicated others, including the jet pilots, in the incident. While American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, were also blamed for the crash, they have filed dismiss motions in response.
The government refuted claims of negligence by any air traffic controllers or officials at the FAA or Army. The collision, which occurred as the airline jet was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, resulted in the recovery of at least 28 bodies from the Potomac River.
The incident involved a total of 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane, along with three soldiers on the helicopter. An attorney representing the family of victim Casey Crafton stated that the government had acknowledged the Army’s responsibility for the tragedy and the FAA’s procedural lapses, while also acknowledging the contributions of American Airlines and PSA Airlines to the fatal outcome.
The families of the victims continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones, deeply affected by the tragic events. The government’s legal representatives admitted that a duty of care was owed to the plaintiffs, which was breached, leading to the accident.
American Airlines refrained from commenting on the filing, asserting in its own motion to dismiss that the proper recourse for the plaintiffs should be directed towards the U.S. government rather than the airline. The focus of the airline post-crash has been on supporting the victims’ families.
The lawsuit had accused the airlines of inadequate risk mitigation measures in flying near helicopters in the D.C. area and insufficient pilot training for such scenarios. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to release its report on the crash’s cause early next year, with preliminary findings indicating various contributing factors.
Among these factors were the helicopter flying above the designated altitude limit on a flight path that allowed minimal separation between landing planes and passing helicopters. The NTSB also highlighted the FAA’s failure to address the dangers despite numerous near misses in the years leading up to the crash.
The government’s filing acknowledged prior near-miss incidents involving Army-operated Black Hawk helicopters and aircraft in the vicinity of helicopter Routes 1 and 4 near Washington.
