U.S. gov't admits role in crash that killed skaters

"The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the actions of an air traffic controller and Army helicopter pilot played a role in causing the Jan. 29 collision between an airliner and a Black Hawk near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, including a group of elite young figure skaters. It was the deadliest plane crash on American soil in more than two decades."

"The official response, made in court documents responding to the first lawsuit filed by one of the victims' families, said the government is liable in the crash partly because the air traffic controller violated visual separation procedures 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."

The U.S. government admitted in court documents that actions by an air traffic controller and an Army Black Hawk pilot helped cause the Jan. 29 collision near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, including elite young figure skaters. The crash was the deadliest on U.S. soil in more than two decades. The filing asserted the controller violated visual separation procedures and that the helicopter pilots failed to maintain vigilance to see and avoid the airliner, creating government liability. The filing also said other parties, including the jet pilots and airlines, may share responsibility. The lawsuit names American Airlines and regional partner PSA Airlines; those carriers have sought dismissal. At least 28 bodies were recovered from the Potomac.

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