US Army, FAA admit fault in deadly Black Hawk-AA jet collision near Reagan National.

Nearly a year after the January 29, 2025, mid-air collision between a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 (AE5342) near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the US government has formally admitted liability in the first related wrongful death lawsuit. The crash, which resulted in 67 fatalities—64 commercial passengers and three Army personnel—is the subject of a suit filed by Rachel Crafton, the widow of a passenger. In a court filing, the government conceded it failed in its "duty of care" to commercial passengers, specifically admitting that the Army helicopter pilots failed "to maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid AE5342."

The legal filing, submitted under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), explicitly states that the United States is liable for damages due to the Army pilots' failure to maintain vigilance. Crucially, the admission also extended to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), noting that the DCA local air traffic controller did not comply with specific procedures outlined in FAA Order JO 7110.65AA. This dual admission of responsibility by both the US Army and the FAA significantly advances the legal proceedings, though the NTSB's official determination of probable cause is not expected until early 2026.

Preliminary reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicate that the Black Hawk, which was returning from a training mission out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was operating significantly above the mandated altitude cap for its flight path up the Potomac River. NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy confirmed that the helicopter was required to fly no higher than 200 feet near the airport but was recorded at 278 feet at the moment of collision. This 78-foot altitude violation placed the military aircraft directly into the flight path of AE5342, which was descending at 313 feet just seconds prior to impact. The plaintiff's legal team welcomed the government's admission, stating it confirms the Army's responsibility for the "needless loss of life."