In brief
In a recent admission, the U.S. government acknowledged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army's role in a catastrophic collision between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter last January, resulting in 67 fatalities. Lawsuits filed by victims' families assert violations in air traffic control procedures contributed to the disaster. The legal accountability extends to American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, which are disputing their involvement. Following the accident, 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac River. Legal representatives continue to investigate further responsibilities ahead of an upcoming NTSB hearing.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government admitted Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army played a role in causing the collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people.The official response to the first lawsuit filed by one of the victims’ families said that the government is liable in the crash partly due to the air traffic controller violating procedures that night.However, the filing suggested that the pilots of both the jet and helicopter also contributed to the incident. The lawsuit also names American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, as responsible parties, although both airlines are seeking to dismiss the claims against them.At least 28 bodies were retrieved from the frigid waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter reportedly entered the landing path of the American Airlines regional jet, which was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport in Virginia, just over the river from Washington, D.C. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers aboard.Robert Clifford, one of the attorneys representing Casey Crafton’s family, expressed that the families will closely examine the government’s recently filed legal documents. Clifford acknowledged that the government’s admission indicates a shared responsibility among multiple parties involved in the crash.Clifford's team is committed to ensuring all entities at fault are held accountable and is awaiting further details from a scheduled NTSB hearing set for January 26.
