US EditionUS Government Admits Fault in Mid-Air Plane Crash That Killed 67
The U.S. government admitted negligence by FAA, Army pilots, and an air traffic controller in the crash that killed all 67 aboard a passenger jet and military helicopter.
- On January 29, 2025, the United States Department of Justice admitted liability in a civil filing after a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter struck an American Eagle regional jet, killing 67 people in the Potomac River.
- Court documents say defendants failed to analyze a substantial number of near-miss events in and around DCA, while NTSB public hearings flagged cultural issues in the Army's 12th Aviation Battalion and altimeter problems.
- Federal filings single out an air traffic controller in the Reagan National tower who did not comply with FAA procedures and gave a muffled warning, while DOJ lawyers say the Black Hawk crew's use of NVG distracted them and breached visual separation procedures.
- The DOJ filing is part of a civil suit by the family of a passenger on American Eagle flight 5342, while American Airlines and PSA Airlines seek dismissal and attorney Robert A. Clifford says families await the January 26 NTSB hearing.
- DOJ's admission came as the independent National Transportation Safety Board probe continues, with a final report and probable cause expected by Jan. 29, 2026, after tightened Reagan National Airport safety protocols.
197 Articles
197 Articles
US Government Admits Role In Deadly DC Helicopter Plane Collision
The U.S. government has formally acknowledged responsibility for a fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C. earlier this year, conceding that failures by both federal air traffic control and an Army helicopter crew contributed to the crash that killed 67 people. The admission came in a court filing responding to a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of one of the victims. In the filing, Justice Department attorneys stated that feder…
U.S. Government Admits Role in Plane Crash That Killed Group of Figure Skaters
The United States government has announced that it believes the actions of air traffic controllers and Army helicopter pilots played a role in the plane crash that killed 67 people, including 14 elite young figure skaters, near Washington, D.C. in January. The accident occurred when American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River shortly before 9 p.m. on January 29. It was the deadliest plane crash on Amer…
Federal government acknowledges fault in midair crash that killed 67 people
The federal government is acknowledging the part it played in a deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. in January. Sixty-seven people died as a result of the crash. What court documents say In court filings responding to a lawsuit from victims' families, the U.S. government admits the crew of the Black Hawk failed to establish and maintain proper and safe visual separation with an …
The US government recognises its responsibility for the January air collision near Washington airport, 67 dead. The US government takes responsibility for the 67 deaths in Washington, Romania, for the first time.
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