In a significant legal development, the United States government has formally accepted responsibility for a catastrophic mid-air collision earlier this year that resulted in one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent decades. The admission of liability came in a federal court filing related to the tragic incident near Washington DC.
Government Admits Breach of Duty in Fatal Collision
Lawyers from the US Justice Department submitted a court document on Wednesday, explicitly stating that the government "admits that it owed a duty of care to plaintiffs, which it breached, thereby proximately causing the tragic accident" on January 29. This admission pertains to the collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which claimed 67 lives.
The filing was made in response to one of approximately two dozen lawsuits initiated by the families of the victims. The plaintiffs have sued the US government, American Airlines Group Inc., and one of its subsidiaries, PSA Airlines.
Details of the January 29th Disaster
The fatal accident occurred as the American CRJ-700 jet, operating as Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia. It collided with the Army Black Hawk helicopter, causing both aircraft to plunge into the Potomac River.
The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter had three individuals on board who were participating in a routine training mission. There were no survivors from either aircraft.
Legal Proceedings and Broader Implications
Robert Clifford, an attorney representing the wife of a passenger killed in the crash, stated that the US Army's admission encompassed its responsibility for the loss of life and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) "failure to follow air traffic control procedure." However, Clifford noted that the government was just "one of several causes," pointing out that American and PSA Airlines have sought to dismiss the complaints against them.
American Airlines declined to comment on the recent Justice Department filing but referenced its motion to dismiss the case. In that motion, the airline expressed sympathy but argued that the plaintiffs' proper legal recourse is against the US government, not the airline. The FAA directed questions to the Justice Department, which did not return a request for comment.
A US Army spokesperson said the military cannot comment further due to ongoing legal proceedings but looks forward to sharing the changes it has implemented once the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) completes its investigation.
The NTSB emphasized that its safety probe into the midair collision is independent and ongoing. In a statement on social media, the agency said its findings "will not be guided by DOJ determinations."
This high-profile collision was followed by several other aviation incidents, leading to widespread public concern. In response, the FAA has enhanced safety measures at the busy Reagan airport and restricted non-essential helicopter operations.
The case is formally known as Crafton vs. American Airlines, 25-cv-03382, in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
