A chilling acknowledgment surfaced this week regarding the devastating midair collision over the Potomac River last January. The U.S. government has now admitted that both the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army share responsibility for the tragedy that claimed 67 lives.
The admission came in a legal filing responding to a lawsuit brought by the family of one of the victims. Government attorneys conceded the FAA deviated from established protocols regarding pilot-maintained visual separation, a critical lapse in air traffic control procedure.
Adding to the FAA’s procedural failings, the Army helicopter pilots were also found at fault. They failed to demonstrate the necessary vigilance to avoid the descending passenger jet, a critical oversight with catastrophic consequences.
On January 29th, a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane collided near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The impact resulted in the deaths of 64 passengers and crew aboard American Eagle Flight 5342, and all three service members in the helicopter.
The initial lawsuit was filed in September by the estate of Casey Crafton, a passenger lost in the crash. His wife, Rachel, and family are seeking accountability for the preventable disaster that shattered their lives.
The government’s filing explicitly states that both the helicopter and passenger jet pilots “failed to maintain vigilance,” and that the Black Hawk pilots specifically “failed to maintain proper and safe visual” separation. This paints a picture of multiple failures converging at a single, horrific moment.
The air traffic controller on duty also bears responsibility, having failed to adhere to established FAA procedures. This systemic breakdown in safety protocols contributed directly to the collision.
Rachel Crafton’s attorney, Robert Clifford, stated the family will meticulously examine the government’s admission. He emphasized the enduring grief felt by the families, a pain particularly acute during the holiday season.
While American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, are also named in the lawsuit, they have moved to have their cases dismissed. The legal battles are far from over, as families seek justice and answers.
A comprehensive report detailing the cause of the crash is anticipated from the National Transportation Safety Board in January. This report promises to provide a deeper understanding of the sequence of events and the contributing factors that led to this devastating loss.
