The U.S. government acknowledged on Wednesday the involvement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army in the January collision between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., which resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals, marking the deadliest crash in the U.S. in over twenty years.
In response to the initial lawsuit filed by a victim’s family, the government accepted partial liability for the crash, citing the air traffic controller’s procedural violation on the night of the incident. It also faulted the Army helicopter pilots for failing to maintain vigilance to avoid the airliner, attributing liability to the government.
While implicating the pilots of the jet, the lawsuit also pointed fingers at American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, both of which have moved to dismiss the claims. The government, however, refuted any allegations of negligence on the part of air traffic controllers, FAA officials, or Army personnel.
Following the collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport, where the American Airlines regional jet was landing, 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac River. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while three soldiers were on board the helicopter.
According to Robert Clifford, representing the family of victim Casey Crafton, the government’s acknowledgment of the Army’s responsibility and the FAA’s procedural lapses, along with the contributions of American Airlines and PSA Airlines, has brought some closure to the families affected by the tragedy.
The lawsuit had accused the airlines of inadequate risk mitigation and pilot training in flying near helicopters in the Washington, D.C., area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to release its report on the crash’s cause in the coming year, with preliminary findings pointing to various factors such as the helicopter’s altitude exceeding prescribed limits and the FAA’s failure to address previous safety concerns.
In its filing, the U.S. government admitted to being aware of near-miss incidents involving Black Hawk helicopters and aircraft traffic around Washington, emphasizing its duty of care to the plaintiffs, which it breached, leading to the tragic accident.
American Airlines refrained from commenting on the filing but asserted in its motion to dismiss that legal action should be directed towards the government rather than the airline, as it has been focused on providing support to the victims’ families post-accident.
