On January 29, 2025, an aviation accident occurred in the Washington airport area, involving a collision between an American Airlines aircraft and a military helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities.
As two Latvian nationals were among the victims, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau appointed an expert to participate in the investigation, in accordance with point 5.27 of Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Part Two of Article 73 of the Aviation Law of the Republic of Latvia.
To exercise the rights of an investigation authority in the event of Latvian citizens being fatally injured or seriously harmed, the Bureau designated Vilis Ķipurs, Head of the Aviation Accident Investigation Division, as its expert representative in the investigation of this tragic accident.