In the wake of a mysterious midair collision near Washington, D.C., which claimed the lives of all 64 individuals on board an American Airlines passenger jet and three service members on a Blackhawk helicopter, the family of one of the deceased passengers has launched legal proceedings. Seeking $250 million in compensation per claim, the family has filed legal claims against both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Army. This legal action marks the onset of what is expected to be a protracted legal feud stemming from the most catastrophic aviation incident in the United States in the last 25 years.
The tragic event unfolded on January 29, prompting the family of Casey Crafton, a passenger on the ill-fated American Airlines flight, to take legal action. Speaking on behalf of Crafton’s family, their lawyer, Robert Clifford, emphasized the preventable nature of the disaster, asserting that various factors aligned to culminate in the tragic accident. Crafton, a resident of Salem, Connecticut, was returning home from a business trip when the collision occurred. Described as a devoted husband and father of three young boys, Crafton’s untimely demise has left a significant void in his family’s life.
In a strategic move, Clifford Law Offices filed the necessary forms under the Federal Tort Claims Act to assert claims against the FAA and the Army, with each claim seeking $250 million on behalf of Rachel Crafton, the deceased passenger’s wife. The sum was chosen cautiously as a ceiling figure for the claim, with room to adjust downwards as more information becomes available. Clifford stressed the emotional toll on the family and the substantial impact of their loss as factors warranting significant compensation.
While claims have not yet been lodged against American Airlines, PSA Airlines, Sikorsky Aircraft, or Collins Aerospace, the legal team representing the Crafton family has initiated inquiries into potential claims of neglect by airlines operating around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. As the NTSB continues its investigation without attributing a cause to the collision, Clifford has pointed fingers at the airlines for purportedly failing to ensure passenger safety adequately.
With the clock ticking on the six-month deadline for responses from the FAA and the Army to the filed claims, the possibility of federal court litigation looms if the claims go unanswered or are rejected. Despite declining to comment on potential legal actions, an FAA spokesperson acknowledges the gravity of the situation as the legal battle intensifies.
Please adhere to the spelling rules and ensure that sentences are not left unfinished.
