The family of one of the 67 victims of January’s fatal plane crash near Reagan National Airport has filed a lawsuit against the government and the airlines involved, saying that the tragedy was “wholly avoidable.” This is the first of what lawyers expect to be many lawsuits about the incident.
During the January 29 crash, an Army helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342. The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the crash but has not yet released its final report. However, it listed several issues that could have contributed, including a broken altimeter gauge in the helicopter, and said that the FAA was warned about dangers of helicopter traffic in the area.
Family Files First Lawsuit
At a press conference on Wednesday, the family of crash victim Casey Crafton announced a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U. S. Army, American Airlines, and PSA Airlines.
The lawsuit claims that the defendants “utterly failed in their responsibilities to the travelling public.” It says that American and PSA were aware that the airspace was crowded and that there had been several near misses, but they took no action to protect their flights.
The lawsuit also says that the Army helicopter flight crew failed to operate the aircraft at the correct altitude, and that the FAA air traffic controllers failed to separate aircraft in the airspace and issue safety alerts.
“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,” said Rachel Crafton, Casey Crafton’s wife. “Today, we are taking legal action because the accountability of American Airlines, PSA Airlines, and the Army and FAA is the only way to ensure this never happens again and no other family has to live with the pain we have to endure each day without Casey.”
The families of several other crash victims attended Wednesday’s press conference. Bob Clifford of Clifford Law Offices, who is representing the Crafton family, said that this is the first of what will likely be many lawsuits brought by victims’ families.
Airline Response
American Airlines and PSA Airlines said they would fight allegations that they caused the collision, the Associated Press reported.
“Flight 5342 was on a routine approach to DCA (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) when the Army helicopter — that was above the published helicopter route altitude — collided with it,” American and PSA airlines said in a statement to AP. “American has a strong track record of putting the safety of our customers and team members above everything else.”
Feature image of Reagan National Airport, stock.adobe.com
