Young pilot’s life cut short in devastating crash
The father of 28-year-old Sam Lilley, the American Airlines pilot killed in Wednesday’s midair collision with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, has expressed his profound grief over the loss of his son. Sam was serving as the first officer on American Airlines Flight 5342 and had been eagerly planning to marry his fiancée later that year.
A father’s heartbreak
In an emotional Facebook post, Sam’s father, Timothy Lilley, shared his sorrow, recalling how proud he felt when his son became a pilot.
“Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep,” he wrote. “I know I’ll see him again, but my heart is breaking. He was thriving in his career and personal life.”
A former Army helicopter pilot himself, Timothy revealed that Sam was engaged to be married in the fall. “It’s devastating to lose someone so loved,” he added.
A tragic realization
At the time of the crash, Timothy was in New York for work. He described the moment he realized his son was aboard the doomed flight as the worst day of his life. He recalled a gut feeling that something was wrong when Sam, who always checked in, failed to do so.
Speaking to Fox News, Timothy reflected on his own experience flying near the Pentagon during the 1990s. He explained how challenging night-time visibility can be over the Potomac River, especially with night vision goggles. “If you’re flying over the Potomac River at night with night vision goggles, it’s extremely difficult to spot a plane. Without them, it’s slightly easier but still challenging,” he said.
He believes the commercial jet followed proper procedures but suspects the military helicopter made a tragic error.
Deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001
The collision occurred at approximately 8:47 PM EST, just three miles from the White House and the U.S. Capitol. The two aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport, claiming the lives of all 67 people on board, making it the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001.
Investigators have since recovered the black boxes from the passenger plane, while rescue teams continue to pull bodies from the river.
A flight filled with notable passengers
American Airlines Flight 5342 was en route to Washington, D.C., from Wichita, Kansas, carrying a number of high-profile passengers. Among them were elite figure skaters, including former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
As the investigation continues, the aviation community mourns the loss of a promising young pilot and the many others who perished in this devastating accident.