(NewsNation) — The Justice Department said the U.S. government acknowledges Army helicopter pilots and an air traffic controller failed in their duties during the Jan. 29 midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., that killed dozens of people.
In a court filing Wednesday, the government admitted it owed a duty of care to victims and their families that it breached, causing the crash.
The U.S. said it is liable, along with other responsible parties, to plaintiffs legally eligible to recover damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The amount of damages has not yet been determined.
“The United States admits that it owed a duty of care to Plaintiffs, which it breached, thereby proximately causing the tragic accident on January 29, 2025, as specifically set forth below,” it said in a legal filing.
“The United States admits that it, among other tortfeasors, is liable to a Plaintiff who is legally eligible to recover monetary damages, as permitted by the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 1346(b), 2671–80, in an amount yet to be determined and apportioned among other tortfeasors.”
DC plane crash
The American Airlines regional passenger jet was carrying 64 people when it collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The collision killed 67 people.
The collision occurred at about 300 feet altitude and roughly half a mile short of a runway. It is the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.
The government added, “The United States admits pilots flying PAT25 failed to maintain proper and safe visual separation from AE5342.”
Senate approves bill inspired by DC plane crash to ensure military aircraft will broadcast location
The Senate moved Wednesday afternoon to close a loophole that could allow military aircraft to fly without broadcasting their locations just like an Army helicopter was doing last January before it collided.
Just hours after passing a massive defense bill that included the worrisome provisions about military flights, the Senate approved a bipartisan bill that will require all aircraft use ADS-B technology — or Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast technology — to broadcast their locations.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said that “tragedy could have been avoided” if the Army Black Hawk had been using its ADS-B system to broadcast its location before the crash, and this bill should save lives.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.