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The father of the man piloting an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter mid-air in Washington, D.C. has spoken out.
Sam Lilley, 28, was one of two people piloting the flight from Wichita, Kansas, his father Timothy Lilley told Fox 5 Atlanta. All 67 people on board both aircraft are feared to be dead, officials say.
The collision happened Wednesday night as the American Airlines flight descended toward Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The aircraft collided over the Potomac River, where officials are now conducting recovery efforts.
“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Lilley told Fox 5.
Timothy Lilley told the outlet that his son was engaged to be married, and that the family has ties to Savannah, in the Georgia area
Lilley was in New York when he realized his son was in the cockpit at the time of the accident, he told Fox 5. He said his worst fears were confirmed when his Sam never checked in after the flight, as he always does.
Lilley said he spent Wednesday evening at the airport, filling out forms as he waited for answers about his son. He now wants clarity on the events that led to the deadly collision.
Lilley himself served as an Army helicopter pilot for 20 years, telling Fox 5 that he has flown a similar route over the Potomac River.
“I was a helicopter pilot in the Army for 20 years,” he said. “In the ’90s, I used to fly in and out of the Pentagon regularly, and I can tell you if you are flying on the route over the Potomac and wearing night vision goggles, it’s going to be very hard to see that plane. If you’re not wearing the goggles, then you might have a chance.”
“From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet,” he added. “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.”
