The family of Casey Crafton, a married father of three who died in last month’s Washington, D.C. plane crash, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army. This marks the first legal action related to the disaster.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by Clifford Law Offices, alleges negligence by the FAA and Army. Casey Crafton was among 63 passengers killed when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29. Three soldiers aboard the helicopter also died.

Attorney Bob Clifford described Crafton as a dedicated husband and father who loved coaching his children’s sports teams. He emphasized that the family deserves answers regarding the tragedy.

Per NY Post, Casey Crafton, married for 16 years, held a degree in aviation management from Bob Jones University in South Carolina. He was returning home from a business trip in Kansas, where he worked as a technical support manager at Guardian Jet.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported staffing shortages and communication failures at Washington-Reagan National Airport’s control tower at the time of the crash. As of September 2023, the airport had only 19 certified controllers, far below the FAA’s target of 30.

Concerns over increased air traffic at Reagan Airport were previously raised by Virginia senators, citing a rise in near-miss incidents. The lawsuit also includes claims to preserve evidence related to the crash. The legal action aims to hold the FAA and Army accountable for any negligence that contributed to the disaster.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?