00:00The federal government is now acknowledging its role in a deadly mid-air collision that killed
00:0767 people near Washington, D.C. in late January. In court filings responding to a lawsuit from
00:13victims' families, the U.S. government admits the crew of an Army Blackhawk helicopter failed
00:18to maintain safe visual separation from an American Eagle passenger jet as it approached
00:24Reagan National Airport. According to the Justice Department filing, the helicopter
00:28crew was on a nighttime training mission using the night vision goggles and, quote,
00:33failed to maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid other aircraft leading to the collision.
00:38The filing also assigns partial blame to the air traffic controller on duty that night,
00:43saying the controller negligently violated FAA procedures by failing to properly manage
00:49visual separation between the helicopter and the passenger plane that was incoming from Wichita,
00:54Kansas. At the time of the crash, multiple reports say only one air traffic controller
00:59was staffing the tower. Families of the victims have called the collision a wholly avoidable
01:05tragedy as the lawsuit continues to move forward.
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