U.S. government admits errors in deadly midair collision near D.C.

The U.S. government admitted in court documents to failures that led to the January midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people in all

The U.S. government admitted in court documents to failures that led to the January midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter that killed 67 people in all.

The government made the admission in a court filing Wednesday about liability for the Jan. 29 crash between American Eagle Flight 5342, which was on approach to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

“The United States admits that it owed a duty of care to Plaintiffs, which it breached, thereby proximately causing the tragic accident,” attorneys for the government said in the filing.

New details in D.C.-area plane collision investigation01:49The admission of liability was filed in response to lawsuits from families of those killed. The master complaint in the case was filed against American Airlines and PSA Airlines, which operated American Eagle Flight 5342, as well as the U.S. government.

American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration declined to comment Wednesday. The Army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.