(NewsNation) — The family of Casey Crafton, who died in last month’s Washington, D.C., midair plane crash, has filed a $250 million legal claim.
Robert Clifford, founder of Clifford Law Offices, emphasized that justice for the family means “accountability” and “answers” for why their loved one died in a “preventable crash,” adding they believe the evidence supports that claim.
Crafton, 40, was among the 67 people killed Jan. 29, when an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair, exploding over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Attorneys said Crafton was returning from a business trip in Wichita, Kansas. He’s survived by his wife of 16 years and their three young sons.
“All of these families are suffering. They are grieving. They are getting on as best that they can,” Clifford said. “All these events about aviation of late certainly don’t help them, because it just retriggers all the bad thoughts.”
Pre-case claims were filed against the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Army, according to a law firm. Clifford noted they’re taking a bit of a “wait-and-see” approach regarding the core of their claims, particularly regarding alleged willful neglect by airlines for allowing military and commercial traffic to commingle.
Washington D.C.’s airspace is complex and congested, and for years has raised concerns among aviation experts about its potential for disasters. Even in peak flying conditions, experts said, the airspace around Reagan Washington National Airport can challenge the most experienced pilots, who must navigate around hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas near sensitive sites.
Clifford supports that sentiment, arguing that the airlines have the “highest duty of care” to their passengers, comparing it to the responsibility drivers have to obey traffic laws.
“Not only are we going to examine what occurred that night and the communications failures that night and the activities of both pilots that night, but we’re also going to be looking at the broader picture about the safety around that airport,” he said. “They can’t run yellow lights, and that’s a real problem here, and we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
Clifford said they will use the next six months to work with the families to build their damages case.