STORY: The U.S. Justice Department said late Wednesday that the federal government was liable in January's fatal crash at Reagan Washington National Airport.
A collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet killed 67 people.
The government admits it breached its duty of care, leading to the crash, and said that both pilots "failed to maintain vigilance."
The DOJ said an air traffic controller also failed to comply with a Federal Aviation Administration order.
As a result of both agencies' conduct, it said the United States is liable for damages.
The FAA declined to comment.
Robert Clifford, a victim's family attorney, says the filing shows the government accepts the Army's role and the FAA's procedural failures.
He added that the government isn't solely at fault and others also share blame.
On the same day, American Airlines asked the court to drop it from a lawsuit.
The firm said that while it sympathized with the families, the real responsibility lies with the U.S. government.
After the crash, the FAA in March restricted helicopter flights when safety investigators called them a serious risk to planes near the airport.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a new law to tighten safety rules for military helicopters.
