Widow Files Wrongful Death Suit in DC Plane Crash
A somber legal battle has begun in the wake of the tragic mid-air collision in January that claimed the lives of 67 people near Washington, D.C. Rachel Crafton, the widow of Casey Crafton, a passenger on American Eagle Flight 5342, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, its regional carrier PSA Airlines, and the U.S. government.
The lawsuit alleges a series of failures that contributed to the devastating crash, which involved Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Crafton's suit claims the defendants “utterly failed” to maintain a safe airspace over the nation's capital.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuit:
- Airline Manipulation: The lawsuit accuses American Airlines and PSA Airlines of manipulating the arrival rate system at Ronald Reagan National Airport to increase the number of flights per hour, allegedly compromising safety margins.
- Helicopter Altitude: The Army helicopter, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, was reportedly flying 100 feet above its authorized altitude at the time of the collision.
- FAA Oversight: The suit faults the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to properly separate the two aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively investigating the crash. Preliminary findings suggest the Black Hawk crew may have had an inaccurate understanding of their altitude. Data recovered from the wreckage indicated pressure altitude values were lower than the actual height above mean sea level.
In response to the crash, the FAA temporarily suspended helicopter routes near Reagan National Airport following an emergency recommendation from the NTSB.
American Airlines has responded to the lawsuit, stating they continue to mourn the lives lost but believe the blame rests with the military. The airline asserts Flight 5342 was on a routine approach when the helicopter, flying above its authorized altitude, collided with it.
This lawsuit marks the first federal legal action taken in connection with the January mid-air collision, promising a long and complex legal process to determine responsibility for the tragic event.