Khaberni - The US government has acknowledged its responsibility for the deadly air collision between a passenger aircraft and a military helicopter in Washington, in January last year, pointing to neglect by military pilots and air traffic controllers, according to a legal document.
The Attorney General presented the 209-page document as part of the civil lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims.
The document states that "the United States acknowledges that it had a duty to protect the plaintiffs, a duty it failed to fulfill, subsequently causing this tragic accident."
The collision, which killed 67 people on January 29th last year, occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, between a Sikorsky Black Hawk military helicopter on a training flight and a Bombardier "CRJ 700" aircraft, operated by American Airlines.
The two aircraft crashed into the frozen waters of the Potomac River.
This is the worst air disaster in the United States since a passenger plane crashed shortly after takeoff in New York in November 2001.
The government stated in judicial documents that the risk of "air collision cannot be completely ruled out" in the airspace of Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, located in the heart of the capital area, which is frequented by a large number of helicopters.
The government acknowledged the military pilots' failure to "maintain their vigilance to see and avoid any other aircraft," contributing to the accident.
The document also points out violations committed by air traffic controllers to the rules in this area.
Preliminary findings of the investigation conducted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board revealed discrepancies in the altitude readings displayed by different devices in the helicopter, as well as difficulties in communication between the helicopter, air traffic control elements, and the civilian aircraft.
