D.C. Air Disaster: Families Launch Landmark Lawsuit Against FAA, Army, American Airlines
D.C. Air Disaster: Families Launch Landmark Lawsuit Against FAA, Army, American Airlines
The families of the 67 victims killed in the tragic January 29, 2025, collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., have filed a landmark lawsuit. The suit, initiated by the widow of Casey Crafton, a Connecticut father of three, targets the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Army, American Airlines, and its regional partner PSA Airlines. This initial filing is expected to be joined by at least 60 other families seeking accountability for the deadliest U.S. plane crash since 2001.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to recognize numerous warning signs, including more than 30 documented near misses in the area prior to the disaster. It accuses the FAA and Army of negligence, citing the Army helicopter’s flight well above its 200-foot limit and a scant 75-foot separation between helicopter and plane routes. American Airlines and PSA Airlines are accused of failing to adequately train pilots for known helicopter traffic and for policies that may have contributed to the crash.
Rachel Crafton, whose husband was an aviation mechanic, stated that he “was betrayed by this system he trusted,” emphasizing the families’ mission to ensure such a tragedy never recurs. Doug Lane, who lost his wife and child, affirmed the collective resolve of the grieving families to “turn grief into action.”
In response, the FAA expressed condolences and affirmed its commitment to safety, noting decisive actions taken since the accident. American and PSA Airlines defended their safety records, stating Flight 5342 was on a routine approach when the Army helicopter, flying above its prescribed altitude, collided with it. The Army declined to discuss lawsuit specifics.
Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have already highlighted several contributing factors, including the helicopter’s altitude, faulty altimeter readings, and the FAA’s failure to address a pattern of near misses and congestion around Ronald Reagan International Airport. The NTSB’s final report is anticipated next year.
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