Widow of Victim in Plane Crash That Killed 67 Sues U.S. Government and American Airlines for Her ‘Profound’ Loss

A woman whose husband was among the victims of the deadly Washington, D.C. plane crash has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against two airlines and the federal government.

The suit follows the January 29 tragedy in which American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport. The midair crash killed 67 people, marking the deadliest aviation accident in the United States since 2001.

Attorneys for Rachel Crafton, who lost her husband Casey Crafton in the incident, filed the complaint Wednesday, Sept. 24, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against American Airlines, PSA Airlines, and the federal government.

Casey, 40, lived in Connecticut with his wife and their three sons, according to CT Insider, and worked at Guardian Jet in Guilford.

“The Defendants were required to exercise extreme vigilance when operating and/or controlling aircraft in the vicinity of Reagan National Airport. These Defendants, however, utterly failed in their responsibilities to the travelling public, specifically including the passengers on board AE 5342,” the lawsuit states.

It also claims Rachel has endured “profound emotional and psychological loss” since her husband’s death.

Attorney Robert Clifford, who represents nine victims’ families, said each case will be filed separately before being consolidated, with damages varying across claims.

“The Defendants’ collective failures (for which they are jointly and severally liable) caused, and/or contributed, to the mid-air collision complained of herein, resulting in the tragic deaths of 67 individuals, specifically including Plaintiff’s decedent, Casey Crafton,” the filing alleges.

A spokesperson for American Airlines told PEOPLE, “The American and PSA families continue to mourn the lives lost in the tragic accident involving Flight 5342.”

They emphasized that aviation safety relies on multiple layers of strict compliance by both pilots and air traffic controllers, adding that the U.S. industry remains the safest in the world.

“As the recent NTSB investigative hearing showed, Flight 5342 was on a routine approach to DCA when the Army helicopter — that was above the published helicopter route altitude — collided with it,” the spokesperson said. “We continue to support the ongoing NTSB investigation and will defend American and PSA Airlines against any legal action claiming the airline caused or contributed to this accident.”

In a statement to PEOPLE, an FAA spokesperson said, “Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones on that tragic January evening. Since the accident, [U.S. Transportation] Secretary Duffy and the FAA have acted decisively to make the skies over our nation’s capital safer.”

They added, “We will continue to work closely with the NTSB to ensure no family has to suffer this pain again.”

American Airlines confirmed there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the flight, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas. The Army Black Hawk helicopter carried three soldiers, bringing the death toll to 67.

Fourteen passengers were affiliated with U.S. figure skating, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston, according to CEO Doug Zeghibe. Victims included teens Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers Molly Lane and Jin Han, as well as Russian world champion coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

Others were connected to the Washington Figure Skating Club, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, and the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. In a statement, U.S. Figure Skating said many of those killed were “athletes, coaches, and family members returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

Authorities announced in a Jan. 30 press conference that what began as a rescue mission had turned into a recovery operation, as they did not believe there were any survivors.

Among the victims was 28-year-old first officer Sam Lilley, who was engaged to be married later this year. His father, Timothy Lilley, shared on Facebook: “I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.”

This summer, families of the victims attended an NTSB hearing, many wearing photos of their loved ones lost in the crash.