The father of the young 28-year-old pilot, Sam Lilley, who tragically lost his life in a midair collision near Washington, D.C., recently opened up about his deep sorrow and loss. In a heartfelt message posted on Facebook, Timothy Lilley expressed the overwhelming grief that has engulfed him, saying, “it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep.”
On the evening of January 29, the skies over Washington, D.C. became the scene of a heartbreaking disaster. American Airlines Flight 5342 experienced a tragic collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The collision, which unfolded around 9 p.m. local time, led to the loss of all 60 passengers and four crew members who were aboard the commercial plane. Tragically, the incident also put three soldiers aboard the helicopter in grave danger.
Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot himself, confirmed the devastating news that his son, Sam, was one of the pilots in charge of the American Airlines flight involved in this catastrophic midair collision.
Timothy shared his heartbreak, noting, “This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life.”
As a grieving father, Timothy found some solace in remembering how both he and Sam shared a deep passion for flying. Sam began his flight training journey in 2019 and had been with PSA Airlines, a regional carrier under the umbrella of American Airlines, for the past two years. To add to the heartbreak, Sam was engaged to be married in the fall.
At the time of the devastating incident, Timothy was working in New York and hadn’t realized his son was involved in the flight. Recounting his initial reaction, Timothy shared, “Last night when I saw on Fox News there was a crash in DC, I really didn’t think there was any way that was my son.” But the silence from Sam, who usually stayed in frequent contact, confirmed Timothy’s worst fears.
‘Hurts so bad’
The following day, Timothy shared an emotional post on Facebook to express the depth of his pain.
“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,” he wrote, along with a photograph of Sam confidently standing beside an APT (Advanced Pilot Training) aircraft. “He was thriving in both his career and personal life. Sam was excitedly looking forward to his wedding this fall.”
He continued, “Sam was serving as the First Officer on the flight that met its tragic end in DC [January 29]. Losing someone you love so dearly is utterly devastating.”
This post touched many hearts, drawing an overwhelming wave of support from family, friends, and even kind-hearted strangers who were moved by the magnitude of his loss.
Messages of compassion and empathy flowed in. “My heart goes out to you, Tim,” shared one compassionate individual. Another person reached out with a comforting note to Sam’s family, writing, “Words fail me. My heart aches for you, Sheri, and the entire family.”
‘Grave error’
Yet another well-wisher praised Sam’s piloting skills, expressing deep sorrow, “My heart breaks for you and your family. Knowing he was your son, I would have trusted any flight he captained with full confidence. I wish you tranquility and solace in the days and weeks ahead.”
Despite the heartfelt condolences, Timothy, who dedicated two decades of service as an army helicopter pilot, found himself unable to find peace with the incident.
Drawing upon his extensive experience, Timothy remarks to Fox 5: “Back in the ’90s, I frequently flew in and out of the Pentagon, and I can tell you, flying over the Potomac at night with vision goggles makes it extremely hard to spot an aircraft. Without those goggles, pilots might stand a chance to notice other planes.”
He elaborated, “From what I can gather, the helicopter crew veered directly into the commercial jet,” Timothy assessed of the Army’s Black Hawk. “It’s my belief that the PSA crew was adhering to all protocols. Unfortunately, the Army pilot made a grave mistake. It pains me, considering those soldiers were my brothers, and now my son is gone,” he lamented.
The tragic event has prompted an investigation spearheaded by the National Transportation Safety Board, with the Federal Aviation Administration assisting in the case, as reported by sources.
We extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this devastating crash. Your thoughts matter. We hope you’ll contemplate this story and lend your support by sharing it, offering comfort to those who are grieving right now.
