The family of one of the 67 individuals killed in the tragic American Airlines and United States Army helicopter crash earlier this year has taken legal action against the involved parties.
On Wednesday, they filed a lawsuit against the government and the airlines, accusing them of neglecting to address multiple warning signs, including over 30 documented near misses in the Washington, D.C. area.
This lawsuit marks the beginning of what could be at least 60 other suits from families who lost loved ones in the collision, which is now recognized as the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since 2001.
Casey Crafton’s widow, Rachel Crafton, who is now raising three young boys on her own, stands at the forefront of this case. Her husband was aboard Flight 5342, which crashed on January 29.
In her statement regarding the lawsuit, Rachel described Casey Crafton as a devoted father and husband who continually valued and respected those around him.
Rachel emphasized her devastation and determination, stating, “As his wife, I cannot stand by and allow his life to be lost in vain.”
She further noted that by pursuing legal action, the Crafton family seeks to hold American Airlines, PSA Airlines, the Army, and the FAA accountable, ensuring that similar tragedies do not occur again.
Doug Lane, who lost both his wife and child in the crash, expressed solidarity with the Crafton family, stating, “I, along with a number of other family members affected by this collision, are here to deliver the message that the Crafton family are not on this journey alone.”
Lane mentioned that, since the crash, families of victims have shifted their grief into action, pressing for investigations into both the FAA and the Army.
Wednesday’s press conference included emotional statements from family members, articulating their pain and the urgency of the situation.
The FAA has responded to the situation, stating it will work with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
In their statement, they extended condolences to the families affected by the incident and highlighted movements towards increasing the safety of flights over the capital.
American Airlines and PSA Airlines stated they would support the families while denying any wrongdoing associated with the crash.
The airlines reiterated that Flight 5342 was on a routine approach to Ronald Reagan International Airport when it collided with the Army helicopter, which they claim was operating above the previously published helicopter route altitude.
Details surrounding the crash remain under investigation, with the NTSB indicating that its comprehensive report will not be completed until next year.
Preliminary reports suggest that the Black Hawk helicopter was flying significantly above the permitted 200-foot limit, but even if it had been at the correct altitude, there was minimal separation between planes and helicopters at the airport.
Furthermore, problems with the helicopter’s altimeter may have also contributed to the collision.
Past investigations have indicated that the FAA overlooked a troubling pattern of near misses at the airport leading up to the crash while also ignoring warnings regarding helicopter traffic.
Reports indicate that controllers were overstretched, attempting to manage a high volume of flights with insufficient separation at landing patterns.
The Crafton family’s lawsuit alleges that the airlines failed to adequately protect their passengers, pointing to their awareness of helicopter traffic at Reagan airport but neglecting to provide necessary pilot training and safety measures.
Lawyer Bob Clifford, representing the affected families, noted, “There is clear evidence that there were dozens of near-misses and thousands of reports of congestion…being ignored by the airlines.”
The lawsuit scrutinizes the actions of the PSA pilots, claiming they failed to react swiftly to an alert about incoming traffic just 19 seconds before the crash, waiting too long to maneuver Flight 5342 upwards.
Additionally, the pilots received warnings about the helicopter from air traffic controllers, although they were never directly alerted about the alarming proximity until it was too late.
The passenger list of Flight 5342 included several members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from a junior skating camp, hunters returning from a trip in Kansas, union members from Maryland, and students and parents from Virginia.
The crash resulted in the tragic loss of life, including four crew members from the plane and three from the helicopter.
Anthony Parente, a 34-year-old who was set to get married within six months, was among the victims, with his parents now seeking answers through the lawsuit.
Bill and Renee Parente expressed their frustration over the preventable nature of the tragedy, asserting their commitment to ensuring that similar incidents will not happen in the future.
“We are on a mission to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Bill Parente declared with determination after the news conference. “We have to live with this for the rest of our lives.”
Through their legal efforts, the families affected hope to not only seek justice but also instigate systemic changes to air traffic safety protocols.
The Crafton lawsuit and the anticipated additional lawsuits reflect a collective desire among grieving families to ensure accountability within the aviation industry, thereby sparing others from their deep pain.
In the face of this tragedy, families are transforming their grief into a concerted call for change, highlighting the importance of accountability and safety in air travel as they await the results of the ongoing investigations.
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