US authorities acknowledge responsability in the Potomac collision
From Aviation HQ@2:292/854 to All on Fri Dec 19 16:16:02 2025
The US government has admitted that the military and air traffic controllers made errors in the January 29 collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines plane near Washington, The Washington Post reports.
The plane crash over the Potomac River near Washington International Airport killed 67 people. It was the deadliest aviation accident in the US in two decades.
In a court filing, the government stated that the military Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision had problems with its barometric altimeter. This could indicate an altitude that could deviate 20 to 30 meters from the actual altitude, a problem that was already known. As a result, the crew had failed to see and avoid the American Airlines plane.
The government also admitted that air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport had failed to warn the aircraft of the approaching helicopter.
In the court filing, the government also admitted liability for the collision. This allows the families of the victims to obtain a financial settlement.