First DC lawsuit alleges systemic negligence in DC plane crash; families push for safety reforms

A family-led lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday marks the first federal case in the district over the Jan. 29 midair collision near Reagan National Airport, with the Crafton family alleging systemic negligence by the airlines involved and by federal oversight agencies.

The crash occurred when American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional service for American Airlines, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, killing 64 people on the American Eagle flight and three aboard the military helicopter. Wreckage was recovered in the days that followed, and the case comes as relatives described the loss at a news conference as they began the legal process to seek accountability and change. The federal lawsuit is filed on behalf of Casey Crafton’s estate, with his wife, Rachel, and other family members leading the action.

The complaint names American Airlines and its PSA Airlines affiliate as defendants, alleging negligence in operations and training and asserting that dangerous conditions at Reagan National Airport were allowed to persist, contributing to a crash that, attorneys say, was predictable and preventable. “The crash of American Eagle 5342 was predictable, preventable, and caused the needless loss of 67 lives,” attorney Robert Clifford said. “American ran red lights for years by allowing these planes to operate in congested, unsafe conditions.”

The plaintiffs also will pursue claims against the U.S. government, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army, for what they describe as systemic failures in oversight, air traffic control and military helicopter procedures. Attorney Brian Alexander, a former Army aviator, said the helicopter crew did not follow basic “see and avoid” flight principles, and he added that air traffic control failed in its duty to manage the traffic in the busy corridor near the nation’s capital.

“The helicopter crew’s conduct was inexcusable,” Alexander said. “Air traffic control completely failed in their duty as the lifeguards of our aviation system.”

Wreckage from the crash was photographed near Reagan National Airport in the days after the incident, underscoring the scale of the tragedy and the urgency of reforms called for by the families and their lawyers.

Before filing the federal complaint, nearly all of the victims’ families had filed Form 95 claims, a prerequisite for federal product or aviation liability suits. The Crafton action is expected to serve as a guiding complaint for additional cases and to be consolidated with others in federal court as the process moves forward.

Doug Lane, who lost his wife Christine and son Spencer in the crash, said more than 120 family members have joined together to pursue accountability. “We support each other through birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, weddings—that were planned but never held,” Lane said. “We’re turning our grief into action.” Lane added that lawmakers have been engaged on aviation-safety reforms and that oversight investigations into the FAA would continue alongside the litigation.

The lawsuit seeks both monetary damages and congressional air-safety reforms, reflecting a broader push from families to address what they describe as systemic safety gaps. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said the action will not be limited to the airlines but will also scrutinize federal oversight mechanisms. They highlighted ongoing discussions with Congress and said investigations into FAA procedures—and, by extension, air-traffic control practices—will be a focus of the plaintiffs’ efforts.

Officials and analysts have noted that the January crash prompted renewed attention to aviation safety and to the balance between safety and efficiency in U.S. airspace. The National Transportation Safety Board conducted investigations into the incident, and federal authorities announced further inquiries and hearings as part of a broader look at air-safety oversight. In the aftermath, families said they intend to pursue accountability for what they describe as a breakdown in safety culture that allowed the tragedy to occur and to persist.

As the legal process moves forward, the Crafton suit and related cases are expected to illuminate the degree to which airline operations, air traffic control, and military procedures must be integrated into a cohesive system that prioritizes safety above all else. The plaintiffs say their ultimate aim goes beyond compensation: they want legislative and regulatory reforms that reduce the risk of a similar disaster in the future and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.