Family of Casey Crafton files first lawsuit over Potomac River crash, alleging 'running red lights' by American Airlines and regulators

WASHINGTON — The family of Casey Crafton filed the first civil lawsuit tied to the Jan. 29 Potomac River crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in which an American Airlines passenger plane collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, killing 64 people aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and three aboard the helicopter. The federal lawsuit, filed on behalf of Crafton’s estate by his wife Rachel and other relatives, accuses American Airlines and PSA Airlines of negligence in operations and training and of knowingly allowing dangerous conditions at Reagan National. The suit notes the crash occurred amid a pattern of congested air traffic and near-miss incidents that the plaintiffs say the carriers had a duty to prevent. The case was announced at a National Press Club event on Sept. 24, 2025, and is expected to guide other victims’ families as they pursue federal litigation.

The plaintiffs say the disaster was avoidable and the result of systemic negligence that included ignoring repeated near misses and congestion data, with the airline accused of prioritizing profit over safety. Attorneys for Crafton’s family say American Airlines and its regional partner PSA Airlines allowed operations in unsafe, congested conditions that made the Potomac corridor vulnerable to a high- risk midair collision. “The crash of American Eagle 5342 was predictable, preventable, and caused the needless loss of 67 lives,” attorney Robert Clifford said, arguing that the carrier repeatedly “ran red lights” by permitting planes to operate in unsafe proximity. The complaint alleges near-miss data were available and disregarded, pointing to a pattern of decisions that favored capacity and schedules over safety.

The action also targets the U.S. government, encompassing the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army, for what the filing characterizes as systemic failures in oversight, air traffic control and military helicopter procedures. The plaintiffs contend the FAA failed to provide safe air traffic control and allowed an unsafe operational environment to persist, while the Army crew did not follow basic “see and avoid” flight principles. “The helicopter crew’s conduct was inexcusable,” said Brian Alexander, an attorney and former Army aviator. “Air traffic control completely failed in their duty as the lifeguards of our aviation system.” The litigation seeks accountability from both the airline operators and the government, arguing that a robust, dual commitment to safety and oversight could have prevented the tragedy.

Before suing the government, families must file Form 95 claims, and attorneys said those claims have already been filed by nearly all of the victims’ families. The Crafton case is anticipated to serve as a leading complaint for other families pursuing similar federal actions and may be consolidated in a single multidistrict federal proceeding. The suit’s architects emphasize that it is about systemic reform as much as monetary damages, aiming to prompt reforms that could prevent future tragedies in congested air corridors.

Doug Lane, whose wife, Christine, and son, Spencer, were among the victims, said more than 120 family members have joined the effort, described as turning “grief into action.” Lane said families have supported each other through milestones that will never come to pass, and he cited ongoing collaboration with Congress on critical air-safety reforms. “We’ve turned our grief into action,” Lane said. “We’ve secured oversight investigations into the FAA, and we will not rest until similar investigations are underway into the US Army.” He added that the coalition plans to persist in pursuing accountability and safety improvements, regardless of how long the legal process takes.

The lawsuit seeks both monetary damages and congressional air-safety reforms. American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.