• The first federal lawsuit has been filed following a midair collision near Reagan National Airport.
• 67 people died, including passengers and crew from both the regional jet and the helicopter.
• The lawsuit names American Airlines, PSA Airlines, and the federal government as defendants.

Rachel Crafton, widow of Casey Crafton, alongside other family members, initiated the first federal lawsuit regarding the January midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The tragic event, which occurred near Washington Reagan National Airport, resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals on board both aircraft. Crafton stated, "Because of systematic failures and reckless disregard for safety, his life, along with 66 others, was taken" according to ABC News and The Hill.

The lawsuit charges American Airlines and the federal government with wrongful death and negligence, asserting that they failed to ensure proper safety measures at the time of the incident. An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with the passenger jet while descending towards the airport, resulting in a catastrophic crash into the Potomac River. Crafton’s family claims that air traffic controllers did not adequately inform the aircraft about their dangerous proximity, and that the helicopter was operating at an unsafe altitude, according to The Hill and NPR.

The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the crash highlighted several critical failures, including issues with the helicopter’s altimeters and a concerning number of near-miss incidents prior to the crash. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the aviation operator's corporate negligence contributed to the disaster, which is recognized as the deadliest air traffic accident in the U.S. in decades. The airline has responded by stating it will vigorously defend itself against the claims made in the lawsuit, highlighting its strong safety track record, according to NPR and ABC News.