FAA Blames Pilot and Controller for Deadly Mid-Air Crash

U.S. investigators have concluded that both pilot error and an air traffic control mistake caused a fatal mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. The crash killed 67 people. A U.S. Justice Department report states the crew of a Black Hawk military helicopter failed to maintain "visual separation" from a medical transport plane. This means the pilots did not keep the other aircraft in sight to avoid it. At the same time, the local tower controller did not follow standard Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) procedures. The controller's actions contributed to the collision. The accident happened in January. The helicopter and the plane crashed near the city of Manassas, Virginia. The findings are part of an official legal filing. They confirm earlier suspicions about the cause of the disaster.