Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The U.S. government has acknowledged its role in the deadly midair collision that occurred on January 29 between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash, which took place over the Potomac River as the passenger jet was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard the two aircraft.
In a court filing on Wednesday (December 17), the Department of Justice admitted that both the air traffic controller and the Army helicopter pilots failed to maintain necessary safety protocols. The controller violated visual separation procedures, while the helicopter pilots did not maintain vigilance to avoid the jet. The crash has been described as the worst air disaster in the U.S. since 2001.
The Justice Department acknowledged that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Army were partly responsible for the collision, but also noted that American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, may share some liability. American Airlines has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the legal recourse should be against the U.S. government.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and plans to release a report on the crash's cause early next year. Preliminary findings indicate that the helicopter was flying above the altitude limit and that the FAA had failed to address safety risks in the area, despite numerous near-misses in recent years. The NTSB has also raised concerns about the helicopter crew's use of night-vision goggles, which may have impaired their ability to spot the jet.
The NTSB's final report is expected to provide further insights into the crash's contributing factors.