After discovering that his son had perished in a tragic midair collision, Timothy Lilley, the father of 28-year-old Sam Lilley—one of the pilots on the American Airlines flight—expressed his heartbreak in a poignant Facebook post, stating, “it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep.”
The tragedy unfolded over Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 29, when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while nearing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
This catastrophic event, which took place around 9 p.m. local time, resulted in the loss of all 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the commercial flight, with three soldiers from the helicopter also feared dead.
Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, confirmed that his son, Sam, was one of the two pilots who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Timothy shared with Fox 5.
The grieving father revealed that he and Sam shared a deep love for flying, with Sam beginning his flight training in 2019. He noted that Sam had been working with PSA Airlines, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, for the past two years and was also engaged to be married.
At the time of the accident, Timothy was in New York for work and was unaware that his son was on the flight. “When I saw on Fox News that there was a crash in DC, I honestly didn’t think it could be my son,” Timothy recounted.
However, when he didn’t receive any messages from Sam, who usually kept in touch, Timothy realized the heartbreaking truth.
‘Hurts so bad’
The following day, the devastated yet proud father took to Facebook to share a touching message about his deep sorrow.
“I felt immense pride when Sam achieved his dream of becoming a pilot. Now, the pain is so overwhelming that I can’t even find the tears to cry myself to sleep. I believe I will see him again, but my heart is shattered,” he wrote alongside a photo of Sam in front of an APT (Advanced Pilot Training) aircraft. “He was thriving in both his career and personal life, and he was set to marry in the fall.”
He adds, “Sam served as the First Officer on the flight that tragically went down in DC on January 29. It’s incredibly heartbreaking to lose someone who was so dearly loved.”
His message struck a chord, leading to a wave of sympathy from family, friends, and even those who didn’t know him personally but felt the weight of his grief.
“My thoughts are with you, Tim,” one person expresses. Another, reaching out to Sam’s parents, Sheri and Tim, says, “I’m at a loss for words. My heart goes out to you and Sheri, as well as the entire family.”
‘Grave error’
A third individual, commending Sam’s skills as a pilot, expresses, “My heart aches for you and your family. Knowing he was your son, I would have confidently boarded any flight he was piloting without hesitation. I wish you peace and solace in the days and weeks ahead.”
However, Timothy, who dedicated 20 years to serving as an army helicopter pilot, is struggling to find any peace regarding the incident.
Reflecting on his experience, Timothy shared with Fox 5: “Back in the ’90s, I frequently flew in and out of the Pentagon, and I can assure you that if you’re flying over the Potomac with night vision goggles, spotting that plane will be quite challenging. Without the goggles, you might have a better chance,” he clarified.
“From what I observed, those pilots veered directly into the jet,” Timothy remarked about the U.S. Army Black Hawk. “I believe the PSA jet was following all the correct protocols. The Army pilot made a serious mistake. It pains me because those are my fellow servicemen, and now my son is gone,” Timothy expressed.
The National Transportation Safety Board is currently spearheading an investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration, as reported by People.
Our hearts go out to those mourning the loss of loved ones in this heartbreaking crash. We invite you to share your thoughts with us and spread this story so we can collectively extend our best wishes to those in grief.