US Government Admits Failures in Deadly DC Midair Collision

Government Acknowledges Role in Tragic Air Disaster

The United States government officially admitted on December 17, 2025, that negligence by both U.S. Army personnel and air traffic controllers played a significant role in the deadly midair collision that occurred near Washington D.C. earlier this year. The admission was made in a 209-page court filing by the Justice Department, responding to the first civil lawsuit brought by the family of a victim from the January 29, 2025, crash.

The collision, which took place over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet operated by American Eagle/PSA Airlines, and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter. All 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished in the incident, making it the deadliest U.S. commercial flight crash since November 2001.

Failures Identified in Army Operations and Air Traffic Control

The government's filing detailed specific failures contributing to the catastrophe:

• Army Helicopter Pilots: The pilots of the Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a training mission utilizing night-vision goggles, failed to 'maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid' the approaching airline jet. Investigations revealed that the helicopter, an older Lima model Black Hawk, had known issues with its barometric altimeter, which could provide readings varying by 70 to 100 feet. The pilots reportedly read two different altitudes without resolving the discrepancy. Furthermore, the Army had not issued a widespread advisory regarding this altimeter problem, which affected up to 100 Black Hawks across the service.
• Air Traffic Controllers: An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport was found to have violated procedures regarding visual separation and failed to alert the commercial jet of the helicopter's proximity. The Justice Department stated the controller 'negligently violated' a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order by 'failing to follow the procedures for visual separation' between the two aircraft. At the time of the accident, a single controller was managing helicopter traffic, departures, and arrivals at DCA.

Context and Ongoing Investigations

The crash occurred as American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on its final approach to Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport. The Army Black Hawk had three soldiers aboard. The airspace around DCA is recognized as busy, and the intersection of Runway 33 with a helicopter route had been previously identified as a safety concern due to a history of 'near miss' events.

While the U.S. government has accepted liability, the filing also suggested that other parties, including the pilots of the jet and the airlines (American Airlines and its regional partner PSA Airlines), may have also contributed to the accident. Both airlines have filed motions to dismiss claims against them. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its independent investigation into the crash, with a final report and probable cause findings anticipated early next year.