Army and FAA Admit Critical Failures in Deadly Mid‑Air Crash Near Reagan National Airport

The U.S. government has acknowledged multiple failures by Army pilots and an air traffic controller at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport that contributed to the deadly mid‑air collision over the Potomac River in January, killing 67 people, according to a newly filed court document.

The admission, submitted by Justice Department attorneys on Wednesday Dec. 17, responds to a civil lawsuit brought by the family of a passenger who died aboard the Jan. 29 American Airlines regional flight departing from Wichita.

The crash involved a regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which collided in midair before plunging into the icy Potomac River. The impact triggered an overnight search‑and‑rescue operation, but no survivors were found. Sixty‑four people were on the commercial flight, and three Army soldiers were aboard the helicopter, which was conducting a training mission.

According to the filing, “the Defendants’ collective failures caused the mid‑air collision that resulted in the senseless and tragic deaths of 67 individuals.” The document states that federal personnel “knew, or should have known,” that Flight AE5342 was operating in one of the nation’s busiest and most complex airspaces, where the risk of a mid‑air collision is well‑documented.

The government further noted that the military was aware of “a substantial number of ‘near‑miss’ events in and around DCA,” which should have prompted heightened vigilance and deeper analysis to prevent a catastrophic accident.

The filing adds that the collision was “an accident waiting to happen” due to the failure to properly analyze available safety data and to operate or control aircraft with the required level of caution.

“The United States admits that it owed a duty of care to Plaintiffs, which it breached,” the government stated. Rachel Crafton, an attorney representing one of the victims’ families, said the families “remain deeply saddened and anchored in the grief caused by this tragic loss of life.”

Attorney Robert A. Clifford added that the legal team continues to investigate and intends to hold all responsible parties accountable. He noted that additional findings are expected at an NTSB hearing scheduled for January 26 in Washington, D.C.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to release its final report—including the probable cause and safety recommendations—by the crash’s one‑year anniversary on Jan. 29, 2026.


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