CHARLOTTE — The U.S. government admitted fault today in the deadly mid-air collision that killed 67 people, including a flight crew based in Charlotte.
This incident occurred on Jan. 29 between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a military Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
The admission comes following a lawsuit filed by attorney Robert Clifford in September on behalf of Casey Crafton, one of the victims. Government officials have acknowledged that both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army played significant roles in the causes of the accident, breaching their duty of care and thereby proximately causing the tragic incident.
The collision resulted in the deaths of all individuals aboard both aircraft.
Clifford, who filed the lawsuit, stated at a September news conference, “The crash of American Eagle 5342 was predictable, it was preventable and it caused the needless loss of 67 lives.”
Clifford emphasized accountability, stating, “Had the Army done what it’s supposed to do, had the FAA done what it’s supposed to do, none of this would have happened.”
The lawsuit suggests that the pilots of PSA Flight 5342 may also have contributed to the tragedy, although the details regarding their involvement remain unspecified as investigations continue.
Following the accident, the FAA imposed restrictions prohibiting military helicopters from flying in the congested airspace around Reagan National Airport where the collision occurred. These new regulations were part of the findings cited in the lawsuit.
Additionally, on the day of the government’s admission, the Senate voted on two bills concerning military flight operations. One of the bills allows military aircraft to operate without broadcasting their locations, a practice that was identified as contributing to the collision. A separate bill aimed at closing that loophole was also passed.
The final report regarding the crash is expected to be released next year. Meanwhile, it is not clear when the House will consider the legislation passed by the Senate.
PHOTOS: Crews continue salvage efforts of Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk helicopter
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A flight takes off from Ronald Reagan National Airport as a wing from American Airlines flight 5342 is lowered onto a barge in the Potomac River during recovery work on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The commercial flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A crane lifts a piece of American Airlines flight 5342 from the Potomac River during recovery efforts on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A salvage worker guides a wing of American Airlines flight 5342 as a crane lowers it onto a barge in the Potomac River during recovery work on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The commercial flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A large portion of the destroyed fuselage of American Airlines flight 5342 is lifted from the Potomac River during recovery efforts on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A wing of American Airlines flight 5342 is lifted from the Potomac River during recovery efforts on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A crane is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: Cranes are visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A excavator is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: Cranes are visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A excavator is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: Cranes are visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A excavator is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A crane is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A excavator is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Arlington, VA. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 03: A crane is visible on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 02: Wreckage is seen as a crane moves in to place on the Potomac River for recovery efforts on February 02, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 2: A crane moves in to place on the Potomac River for recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 2: In this handout provided by the National Transporation Safety Board (NTSB) NTSB investigators prepare a combination flight data and cockpit voice recorder from the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in midair collision with a Bombardier CRJ700 for transport to NTSB laboratory on February 2, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by NTSB via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 2: In this handout provided by the National Transporation Safety Board (NTSB) NTSB investigators along with members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Bombardier CRJ700 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk mid-air collision in the Potomac River on February 2, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by NTSB via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 2: In this handout provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) NTSB investigators along with members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Bombardier CRJ700 and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk mid-air collision in the Potomac River on February 2, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by NTSB via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)