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Dc Plane Crash Victim's Family Files Claims For Compensation From Faa, Army
The family of one of the victims killed in last month’s midair collision between a passenger plane and a U.S. Army helicopter in Washington filed claims Tuesday seeking compensation from the Federal Aviation Administration and the military, citing preliminary information that the control tower was not staffed normally at the time of the crash.
The claims, lodged by the Chicago-based Clifford Law Offices on behalf of the widow and children of the passenger, Casey Crafton, 40, of Connecticut, are seeking a total of $250 million from the FAA and the Army. Though not a formal suit, it kicks off a process that could eventually result in one.
The Army didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The FAA declined to comment on "potential litigation."
In a statement accompanying the filing, the law firm notes reports that staffing at the control tower was not as it typically is. (The tower had shifted to having one person control both helicopter and commercial jet traffic earlier than that shift is typically made.)
The statement also observes the current uncertainty and disruption affecting the FAA as the Trump administration conducts mass firings of probationary employees across the federal government.
“It is being reported that the Trump Administration began notifying hundreds of probationary FAA workers late Friday that they are fired and will be barred from entering their offices effective today,” the statement read.
The filing of the claims against the federal government starts the clock ticking on filing a case. The government now has six months to act upon the clams. If rejected or not acted upon within that time, the plaintiffs can go ahead and file a lawsuit in federal District Court.
“In my experience, they always reject the claim or they just don’t answer it,” attorney Robert Clifford said in a video.
The NTSB has yet to release a preliminary report on the crash, which killed 67 people, and its investigation remains ongoing.
