Family of DC Midair Collision Victim Sues Army, FAA, Airlines Over ‘Wholly Avoidable Tragedy’

Rachel Crafton, the surviving spouse of Casey Crafton who perished in the crash on Jan. 29, filed the lawsuit in federal court.

The U.S. Coast Guard investigates aircraft wreckage after a midair collision over the Potomac River near Washington, on Jan. 30, 2025. Brandon Giles/ U.S. Coast Guard via Getty Images

The family of one of the victims of the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington earlier in 2025 filed a lawsuit on Sept. 24 against the U.S. government, the airline, and its subsidiary.

Rachel Crafton, the surviving spouse of Casey Crafton—who was killed in the crash between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a CRJ700 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on Jan. 29—filed the lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday.