The father of a pilot who was onboard the American Airlines plane that crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside of Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this week reflected on his son’s path to flight certification.
“I was so proud of him,” Tim Lilley told NewsNation, noting that his son, Sam Lilley, obtained certification in just a few years because he “pursued it with a vigor.”
He also noted that the young co-pilot was engaged to be married.
“His career was going great. He was engaged to a great girl,” Lilley said Thursday. “He was just at the prime of his life.”
The Lilleys discovered Sam was onboard the flight heading to Washington D.C., from Wichita, Kan., after getting in touch with his fiancée.
“You know, we saw there was an accident,” the father recalled. “I didn’t think there was any way it was Sam, but I knew he was on a trip.”
“So, through my wife, we got in touch with his fianceé and we found out what trip he was on. And it was the same trip,” he continued. “And he wasn’t answering the phone. So, I knew.”
His family is now mourning the loss alongside others after the collision, which claimed the lives of more than 60 people — including three other American Airlines crew members.
“Sam’s right with Jesus, and I know where he’s going,” Lilley told NewsNation.
“We just need time. My family, and time,” he added. “Lots of prayers.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also expressed his “deep sorrow” after the incident. He said the company is working with officials to learn everything it can about the crash, but acknowledged that the investigation would take time.
Emergency response teams are currently working to recover bodies from the Potomac River, where both aircrafts landed after the tragic incident — the U.S.’s deadliest aviation accident in nearly 24 years.
Officials did not expect to rescue any survivors and have recovered around 41 bodies as of Friday morning. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation.
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