US Government Admits Responsibility for Deadly Midair Collision in Washington

The US government has admitted responsibility for a deadly midair collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter that occurred in Washington in January, citing negligence by military pilots and air traffic controllers.

According to a court document released on Wednesday, and submitted by the United States Department of Justice, the government acknowledged it failed in its duty to protect those affected by the incident. The 209-page document was filed as part of a civil lawsuit brought by the family of one of the victims. The document states that the United States had a legal obligation to protect the plaintiffs, which it did not fulfill, leading to the tragic accident.

The collision took place on January 29 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It involved a US Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission and a Bombardier CRJ700 passenger aircraft operated by a subsidiary of American Airlines. All 67 people on board the two aircraft were killed when they crashed into the icy waters of the Potomac River.

This incident is the worst aviation disaster in the United States since a passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff in New York in November 2001.

In the court filings, the government said the risk of a midair collision cannot be completely ruled out in the airspace around the airport, which is located in the heart of the US capital and frequently used by military and civilian helicopters.

The documents also admit that military pilots failed to remain fully alert to see and avoid other aircraft. In addition, air traffic controllers were found to have violated established safety procedures.

Preliminary findings by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed differences in altitude readings from the helicopter’s instruments, along with communication difficulties between the helicopter crew, air traffic controllers, and the civilian aircraft.