A federal lawsuit has been filed by families of victims killed in the January midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington Reagan National Airport.
The tragic crash over the Potomac River claimed 67 lives, marking the deadliest U.S. airline disaster since 2001.
Allegations of Wrongful Death and Negligence
The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Washington, alleges “wrongful death and survival claims, jointly and severally” against American Airlines, its regional partner PSA Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Army.
“The crash of American Eagle 5342 was predictable, it was preventable, and caused the needless loss of 67 lives on that fateful evening,” attorney Bob Clifford said during a press conference.
The complaint argues that the FAA created unsafe conditions in Reagan National’s congested airspace, while both the Army and air traffic controllers failed in their duties to prevent the collision.
