Sam Lilley Obituary: A family with Georgia ties is in mourning after a mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night killed two pilots – one of them a 28-year-old named Sam Lilley.
Lilley was on an American Eagle flight that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in the air, turning into a tragic disaster over the Potomac River.
Sam Lilley was born to fly. Drawing inspiration from his father, Timothy Lilley, who was a military helicopter pilot, he had been passionate about flying since he was a little boy. His father has confirmed the heartbreaking news of his death: “This is the worst day of my life.”.
Sam had been training to become a pilot since 2019 and had been working with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, for the past two years. Engaged to get married, this only made it more devastating for Sam’s loved ones to bear the sudden passing away of their guy.
Tim was in New York working when the news broke. He immediately ruled out the likelihood that his son was on the plane. “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,” he said. But when he couldn’t contact Sam, his worst fears soon became a reality. “But when I didn’t hear from him, I knew something was wrong.”
Initial reports indicated the American Eagle CRJ-700 jet was following the book when the military helicopter suddenly cut in front of it. Timothy, a veteran Army pilot himself, spoke with some knowledge of the mishap. “If you’re flying on the route over the Potomac wearing night vision goggles, it’s very hard to see a plane. If you’re not wearing them, then you might have a chance.”. He believes the Army pilot made a fatal error. “The PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave mistake. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead.”
Georgia House Majority Caucus Whip James Burchett said he’s praying for the Lilley family and the family of First Officer Tara O’Hara, the other victim killed in the crash. “Sam Lilley was an aviator who was following in his father’s footsteps as the first officer onboard American Airlines Flight 5342. He was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School and Georgia Southern University,” said Burchett. “While we will no doubt learn what went wrong in the weeks ahead, today, we mourn the loss of these young men and the dozens of others who perished.”
Sam was an active member of his church and was well liked for his kind nature and his unwavering faith. The church community released a statement saying, “Our hearts are heavy today as we grieve over the loss of so many lives in this tragedy. Among those we are mourning is Sam Lilley, a brother in Christ who has been a well-loved part of our church family since he was a little boy. His absence leaves a huge hole in our hearts.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun an investigation into the collision. By Thursday afternoon, at least 28 bodies had been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River. All 64 people aboard the American Airlines jet and the three soldiers on the Army helicopter are presumed dead.
The pain to Timothy Lilley, having lost his son, cannot be measured, though he stays focused on the quest to find out what caused this terrible accident. As investigations go on, the Lilley family and many others are left to grieve the loss of a brilliant and promising young pilot whose journey was cut far too short.
