US government admits negligence in helicopter-plane collision that killed 67 in Washington

"WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army played a role in causing the collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter near the nation's capital, killing 67 people. The official response to the first lawsuit filed by one of the victims' families said that the government is liable in the crash partly because the air traffic controller violated procedures about when to rely on pilots to maintain visual separation that night."

"Plus, the filing said, the Army helicopter pilots' failure to maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid the airline jet makes the government liable. But the filing suggested that others, including the pilots of the jet and the airlines, may have also played a role. The lawsuit also blamed American Airlines and its regional partner, PSA Airlines, for their roles in the crash, but those airlines have filed motions to dismiss."

"At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet while it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport in northern Virginia, just across the river from the nation's capital, officials said. The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter."

The government admitted that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army played roles in the January collision between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter that killed 67 people. The official legal response to a victim's family's lawsuit cites an air traffic controller's violation of procedures regarding reliance on pilots for visual separation and the Army pilots' failure to maintain vigilance to see and avoid the airliner. The lawsuit also blames American Airlines and regional partner PSA Airlines, which have moved to dismiss. At least 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac. The National Transportation Safety Board will release its report early next year.

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