U.S. government admits liability in deadly D.C.-area air collision

Friday, December 19, 2025 -In a rare and striking legal development, the U.S. government has formally acknowledged partial responsibility for the deadly mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people earlier this year. 

In response to wrongful-death lawsuits filed by victims’ families, the Department of Justice admitted in a court filing that the government breached its duty of care in the January 29 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Reagan National Airport. The admission marks a significant shift in how the federal government is addressing one of the deadliest aviation disasters on U.S. soil in decades.

The court documents indicate that failures by Black Hawk pilots to maintain adequate vigilance and avoid other aircraft were central to the crash, and that these operational lapses constituted a breach of duty. 

The filing also noted potential contributing actions by the airline’s pilots, though it stopped short of assigning full blame to American Airlines or its regional partner. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board continues its own independent investigation to determine the underlying causes and complete a formal safety report.

The government’s concession has energized calls from lawmakers and aviation safety advocates for stronger protections in congested airspace around major airports. In response, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan aviation safety legislation—known as the ROTOR Act—to tighten military aircraft safety protocols and improve real-time tracking technology across both civilian and military flights. 

Attention now turns to the House, where action on the measure is expected early next year, as families of victims and industry stakeholders press for meaningful reforms to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.