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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.

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Families Speak Out

Rachel Crafton, whose husband Casey was among those killed, stated:
“Because of systematic failures and reckless disregard for safety, his life, along with 66 others, was taken. Casey was betrayed by this system he trusted — we all were. As his wife, I cannot stand by and allow his life to be lost in vain.”

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and monetary damages. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyers, cases of this nature typically take two to three years to resolve.

FAA, Airline, and Army Responses

American Airlines responded to the suit by telling ABC News that it has “a strong track record of putting the safety of our customers and team members above everything else” and pledged to cooperate with the ongoing NTSB investigation.

The FAA issued its own statement:
“Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones on that tragic January evening. Since the accident, Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA have acted decisively to make the skies over our nation’s capital safer.”

CODIS and Federal Lawsuit and Investigations

While the lawsuit focuses on air traffic safety, aviation attorneys noted that identification of crash victims often involves the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the FBI’s national DNA database. CODIS allows forensic experts to match genetic material from remains with existing DNA profiles provided by relatives, ensuring accurate victim identification in large-scale disasters.

First developed in the 1990s, CODIS now integrates DNA information from federal, state, and local labs nationwide. The system has been vital in solving violent crimes, exonerating the innocent, and providing closure in aviation disasters like this one. More details on CODIS can be found through the FBI’s official CODIS resource.

Federal Lawsuit Proceeds

Brian Alexander, a partner at Kreindler & Kreindler, underscored the role of air traffic controllers: “The primary duty of an air traffic controller is to separate traffic and to avoid midair collisions. In this particular case, they completely failed to meet that responsibility.”

As the case proceeds, families of the victims say they are determined to hold the responsible parties accountable and prevent future tragedies in U.S. airspace.

For further details, see:

• First lawsuit over DC plane crash blames the airline, the FAA and the Army - ABC News
• Family of 1 of the 67 Washington Plane Crash Victims Sues the FAA, Army and American Airlines
• What is known about the deadly January air crash – AP News