The government of the Estados Unidos admitted partial responsibility for the aerial collision that occurred on January 29, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of 67 people.
The accident involved a regional jet from American Eagle, operated by PSA Airlines, and an Black Hawk helicopter from the American Exército, over the river
The confession came in a 209-page court document presented by Departamento of Justiça in response to a lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims.
- The helicopter was carrying out a training mission with night vision goggles.
- The jet was carrying 64 people, including passengers and crew.
- There were no survivors on either aircraft.
Collision details
The collision happened at around 8:47 pm local time, as the jet approached runway 33 at the airport.
The pilots of Black Hawk reported to air traffic control that they maintained visual separation with the commercial airliner.
However, the government acknowledged that the helicopter crew failed to maintain adequate surveillance to avoid other aircraft.
This failure was considered a direct cause of the accident.
Plane with 64 people hits helicopter and crashes in Washington.
— Tumulto BR (@TumultoBR)January 30, 2025
Nineteen bodies were recovered, according to unofficial information. Voo from American Airlines left Kansas and the helicopter was from Exércitopic.twitter.com/2XwPyLSXLV
Traffic control failures
An air traffic controller in the airport tower simultaneously managed helicopter traffic and arrivals and departures operations.
The court document points out that the controller violated Administração Federal of Aviação (FAA) procedures by not following visual separation rules between aircraft.
The government admitted that this negligence contributed to the dangerous proximity between the helicopter and the jet.
Authorities highlighted that the airspace around the airport is one of the most complex in the world, with military helicopter routes close to the trajectories of commercial planes.
Airspace context
Ronald Reagan airport operates in a restricted area due to its proximity to government buildings in Washington.
Helicopter routes pass within a few meters vertically of landing approaches.
In the years before the accident, there were thousands of proximity events between helicopters and commercial planes in the region.
The FAA implemented restrictions on non-essential helicopter flights following the incident and eliminated the use of visual separation in certain areas.
Investigation underway
The investigation of Conselho Nacional of Segurança at the Transportes (NTSB) remains ongoing.
Preliminary reports indicated known hazards in the airspace, including near-miss events in previous years.
The NTSB has issued urgent recommendations to the FAA to improve safety in the area.
The final report should be released in the coming months.
Family reactions
Family members of co-pilot Sam Lilley argued that the jet crew followed all correct procedures.
They asserted that Captain Jonathan Campos and copilot Lilley complied with federal regulations and industry standard practices.
The initial legal action was filed by the family of Casey Crafton, a passenger on the flight.
Other families seek full accountability for identified failures.
Measures adopted after the accident
The FAA has restricted mixed helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft operations near the airport.
Excessive reliance on visual separation within certain radii has been eliminated.
The Exército reviewed protocols for training missions in congested areas.
These changes aim to reduce similar risks in complex airspaces.
The accident marked the most serious commercial air disaster in the Estados Unidos since 2001, highlighting challenges in air traffic management in high-density regions.
