A father is mourning his 28-year-old son after he died in a plane crash. The young pilot, who shared his father’s passion for flying, was engaged to be married.
Sam Lilley was one of the two pilots aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, January 29. His father, Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, is devastated by his death.
Timothy was in New York for work when news of the crash in Washington, D.C., first broke. At first, he dismissed the possibility that his son was involved. However, as time passed without any word from Sam, who never failed to check in, his concern turned into a devastating realization.
“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Timothy said upon learning that his son was on the flight and had not survived. He mourned his loss with a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much.”
Timothy, a former Army helicopter pilot with two decades of service, shared a deep love of aviation with his son. Sam began his flight training in 2019 and had been a pilot with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, for two years.
He graduated from Georgia Southern University with a marketing degree in 2018 before dedicating himself to aviation. Timothy shared that his son initially ventured into a marketing career after graduating but soon realized his true passion was flying. His dad said he worked tirelessly to achieve his dream.
Outside of his career, he was also preparing for a future of marital life with his fiancée after their fall wedding. As Timothy mourns his loss, he finds solace in the progress Sam had made in life, reflecting, “I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.”
When asked what he wanted people to remember about his son, Timothy, through tears, described Sam as a happy and kind person who lived life to the fullest. He emphasized that Sam always helped others and lived his Christian faith through acts of kindness.
Sam’s friend and pilot, Skeeter Little, will forever cherish the memories they made together. “The man had a smile every day. He had the best jokes,” said Skeeter. During flight school, Sam’s energy and jokes made their experience together memorable, including the sweet lunches he used to pack.
“Sam wanted nothing more than to be a pilot. His dad was a pilot. We’re all trying to achieve the same goal. Become pilots,” a heartbroken Skeeter noted. Skeeter described aviation as a tight-knit community, with all sectors of an airline or organization playing a role in ensuring the safe operation of flights.
Samuel was a part of this warm community, having dedicated his life to flying and worked his way up to First Officer at American Airlines, a position he had dreamed of for years. Now, the aviation world mourns the loss of one of its own.
Fellow pilots and airline workers have shared heartfelt tributes on social media, offering condolences. Skeeter shared, “Thoughts to all the families. Prayers. Hug your loved ones. Tragic things happen, and um. Clear skies and tailwinds.”
The PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet that Sam was in, was flying from Wichita, Kansas before it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Runaway 33 at Reagan Washington International Airport. The plane and helicopter crashed into the Potomac River.
Georgia House Majority Caucus Whip James Burchett (R-Waycross) has expressed his condolences to the families. He also mentioned that as investigations continue, the families will soon gain clarity on the causes of the accident and the steps that can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Due to his experience as a helicopter pilot, Sam’s dad understands the complexities of aerial operations. Timothy also knows firsthand the challenges of navigating the Potomac River route, especially at night, having flown in and out of the Pentagon during the 1990s.
He pointed out that flying with night vision goggles significantly reduces visibility, making it much harder to spot other aircraft. “If you’re not wearing the goggles, then you might have a chance,” he explained.
Based on his analysis, Timothy believes the commercial PSA jet was adhering to proper procedures, while the military helicopter made a tragic error. “From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead,” Timothy narrated.
US President Donald Trump has also given an update on the devastating crash. He noted that the search and rescue operation has now turned into a recovery mission as there are no survivors. He praised the responders for doing a great job by leveraging every resource at their disposal when the crash occurred.
He pledged to support families affected by the accident and to find them the answers they seek. “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas. We’ll find out how this disaster occurred and we’ll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again,” he noted.
As of the time of publication, at least 40 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River, according to a law enforcement source. Additionally, the plane’s “black boxes” have been recovered, providing critical evidence for ongoing investigations.