In a response to a lawsuit filed by the family of one of the crash victims, the Justice Department says FAA and Defense Department employees were negligent, making the government partly to blame for the collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger plane at Ronald Reagan National Airport.
According to the response, the pilots were unable to maneuver the helicopter well enough and the air traffic controller failed to follow procedures regarding when it is safe to rely solely on the pilots' vision to avoid accidents.
American Airlines and its regional partner PSA Airlines are also defendants in the lawsuit. However, American Airlines has argued that the relatives should focus on the US government.
An investigation into the accident is expected to be presented in early 2026. However, US President Donald Trump has blamed the accident on the two Democratic former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama for lowering aviation safety during their terms in the White House and instead prioritizing diversity. After the accident, the president also attacked the FAA, criticizing their hiring of people who he claims have intellectual disabilities, among other things.
