The U.S. government acknowledged on Wednesday its involvement in the midair 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 on American soil in over twenty years. The government’s response to the initial lawsuit from a victim’s family pointed out that the crash was partly due to the air traffic controller’s procedural violation that night. Additionally, the failure of the Army helicopter pilots to remain vigilant and avoid the airline jet also contributed to the crash, making the government accountable.
While the lawsuit implicated American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, in the incident, both airlines have filed motions seeking dismissal. The government, however, refuted claims of negligence on the part of the air traffic controllers or officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army.
The collision, occurring on January 29, involved a regional jet from American Airlines, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, and a Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board. Following the crash, 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac River.
Legal representatives for the family of victim Casey Crafton highlighted the government’s admission of responsibility for the tragedy and failure of the FAA to adhere to air traffic control protocols. They also noted the shared accountability of American Airlines and PSA Airlines in the devastating event.
In response to the lawsuit, an American Airlines spokesperson refrained from commenting, emphasizing that the appropriate legal action should be directed towards the U.S. government. The airline emphasized its focus on providing support to the victims’ families post-incident.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will release a comprehensive report on the crash’s root cause early next year. Preliminary investigations have cited multiple factors contributing to the incident, including the helicopter flying above its designated altitude limit, leading to minimal separation between landing planes and passing helicopters.
The NTSB report is expected to shed further light on the FAA’s failure to address safety concerns around the airport despite numerous near-miss incidents in the years leading up to the collision. The government, in its legal filing, acknowledged prior near-miss events involving Army-operated Black Hawk helicopters and aircraft in the vicinity of Washington, emphasizing its awareness of the potential risks.