U.S. Government Acknowledges Fault in Deadly Potomac River Midair Collision
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant admission, the U.S. government acknowledged responsibility for the catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that resulted in the deaths of 67 people earlier this year. The collision, which occurred on January 29, 2025, involved an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, a passenger jet en route from Wichita, Kansas.
Federal attorneys, responding to a lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims, conceded that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Army failed to uphold their respective duties. The legal filing detailed that FAA controllers violated established procedures regarding when they can rely on pilots to maintain visual separation. Simultaneously, the Army helicopter pilots were found to have “failed to maintain vigilance” and did not keep proper visual separation from the descending passenger aircraft.
“The United States admits that it owed a duty of care to Plaintiffs, which it breached,” the filing stated, marking a rare and consequential acknowledgment of fault by the government in an aviation disaster. The crash claimed 64 lives aboard the American Eagle flight and three on the military helicopter, marking one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the Washington, D.C. area.
The lawsuit was initiated by the estate of Casey Crafton, a passenger who perished in the crash, with his wife Rachel Crafton leading the legal action. Their attorney, Robert Clifford, emphasized that the families remain profoundly affected by the tragedy and will “carefully study these new filings” as the case progresses.
Investigations revealed that the local air traffic controller also failed to comply with FAA protocols, a critical factor in the chain of events leading to the collision. The FAA’s procedural lapses included improper reliance on pilots to maintain visual separation without adequate controller oversight, a violation of the agency’s own safety standards.
The collision unfolded as the Black Hawk helicopter and the American Airlines jet approached the airport’s airspace, with two other aircraft reportedly executing “go-arounds” to avoid the military helicopter, underscoring the chaotic conditions in the vicinity at the time. Emergency response teams, including the Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS and D.C. Police, responded swiftly to the scene in the Potomac River, but all aboard the two aircraft perished.
This incident has prompted calls for comprehensive reforms in air traffic control procedures and military flight operations near civilian airports. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been actively investigating the crash, and the FAA has come under scrutiny for systemic weaknesses in managing mixed military and civilian air traffic.
The U.S. Army has also faced criticism for the failure of its Black Hawk pilots to maintain proper situational awareness and visual separation, a fundamental responsibility in congested airspace. The incident has raised broader concerns about the coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities in the nation’s capital.
For more information on aviation safety and regulatory standards, visit the Federal Aviation Administration. Details on military aviation protocols can be found through the U.S. Army. The ongoing investigation is overseen by the National Transportation Safety Board, which provides updates on major transportation incidents. For emergency response protocols and coordination, the U.S. Fire Administration offers extensive resources.
As the legal proceedings continue, the families of the victims seek accountability and measures to prevent such a tragedy from recurring in the nation’s airspace.
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