Overview

• Rachel Crafton, widow of passenger Casey Crafton, filed a wrongful-death suit in Washington, D.C., against American Airlines, PSA Airlines and U.S. government entities.
• The complaint alleges eroded safety margins from arrival-rate practices, pilot training gaps and a decision to accept a circling approach to Runway 33, and says PSA pilots reacted only at the last moment after a traffic alert 19 seconds before impact.
• Investigative materials cited in the suit state the Army Black Hawk flew above the 200-foot route limit, flight data showed it was higher than its altimeter indicated, and its ADS-B Out was not broadcasting.
• The NTSB has pointed to FAA failures to act on patterns of near misses and heavy controller workloads, with the board’s final report expected in January.
• American said the helicopter’s excessive altitude led to the collision and vowed to defend the airline, while the Justice Department pledged a fact-based resolution as additional families prepare related claims.