U.S. government takes responsibility for fatal midair crash near D.C.

On Wednesday, the U.S. government acknowledged its responsibility for a tragic midair collision earlier this year between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that claimed the lives of 67 individuals. In a 209-page court filing by the Justice Department, the administration admitted to breaching its duty of care to the plaintiffs involved, which ultimately led to the accident on January 29, 2025. The filing outlined that during a training mission, the crew of the Army Black Hawk helicopter, using night-vision goggles, failed to establish and maintain the necessary visual separation with a regional American Eagle flight approaching the runway at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. The U.S. government also pointed to an air traffic controller at the DCA tower as partially accountable for the incident due to a negligent violation of FAA procedures for visual separation between the helicopter and the passenger jet. The government's revelation was in response to a lawsuit filed by the family of Casey Crafton, a passenger on the flight. The National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the crash, with final results and recommendations expected by the anniversary of the tragic event. Tim and Sheri Lilley, parents of First Officer Sam Lilley who was in the cockpit of the American Eagle flight during the collision, maintain their belief that their son followed all required procedures and industry standards leading up to the accident, as supported by the NTSB's investigative hearing.