The US government acknowledges responsibility for an air collision in Washington in early 2025

The US government acknowledged its responsibility for the fatal air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington last January, citing negligence on the part of military pilots and air traffic controllers, according to a 209-page judicial document submitted by the Department of Justice as part of the civil lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims. The document stated that “the United States acknowledges that it was obligated to protect the plaintiffs, a duty it did not fulfill, which subsequently caused this tragic accident.”

The collision, which killed 67 people, occurred on January 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan National Airport, in Washington, between a Sikorsky Black Hawk military helicopter that was on a training flight, and a Bombardier CRG 700 aircraft belonging to American Airlines.

The two planes crashed in the frozen waters of the Potomac River.

The government said in court documents that the risk of “air collision cannot be completely ruled out” in the airspace of Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, which is located in the heart of the Washington, D.C., area and over which large numbers of helicopters fly.

The government acknowledged that the military pilots failed to “maintain their alertness to see and avoid any other aircraft,” which contributed to the accident.

The document also refers to violations committed by air traffic controllers of the rules applicable in this area.