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Casey Crafton, 40, of Salem, was among 67 people killed when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29. Everyone onboard the jet and the three operating the helicopter died over the Potomac River.
It is the deadliest US aviation disaster in more than 15 years.
"Casey was an incredible human being. He was a giver. He was a loving husband and father. He enjoyed coaching his boys in youth soccer and Little League baseball. They will be grieving him for the rest of their lives, which will never be the same," said Robert Clifford, an attorney representing the Crafton family, told ABC News.
Clifford is seeking $250 million from the Federal Aviation Administration and another $250 million from the Army, Clifford said in a news release.
"This was a disaster waiting to happen, and it just so happened on that particular night," Clifford told the news outlet. "Everything came together to create this preventable tragedy. We want to get to the bottom of it, and this gets us going."
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not yet released its findings on the cause of the crash. Clifford said other lawsuits could be filed after that report is released.
Casey Crafton was returning home from a business trip in Wichita, Kansas, with a scheduled layover at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the crash happened. He leaves behind his wife, Rachel, and their three young sons.
A dedicated community member, Crafton volunteered with the Montville Youth Soccer Club, served as a Salem Little League board member, and sat on the town’s recreation board.
"Our small town is heartbroken by this devastating tragedy involving one of our beloved Little League members," the Montville Youth Soccer Club said in a statement. "The Crafton family, deeply involved in all things Salem, has suffered an unimaginable loss."
A Meal Train fundraiser raised nearly $130,000 in donations to support the family.
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