(NewsNation) — The father of First Officer Sam Lilley — a pilot himself, who flew military helicopters in the ’90s — is mourning his son’s death following a brutal crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.
Sam Lilley was one of the crew members aboard the American Airlines regional jet that collided with a military helicopter while landing at DCA.
In total, 64 people were on on the jet, and there were three people on the UH-60 Black Hawk. Officials have recovered 28 bodies from the icy Potomac River.
It’s believed there are no survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.
‘I was so proud of him’: First Officer Sam Lilley’s dad
As investigation begins into the tragedy, Sam Lilley’s father, Tim Lilley, tells NewsNation’s “CUOMO” that his son will be remembered as a kind, happy man.
“His career was going great. He was engaged to a great girl. He was just at the prime of his life,” Tim Lilley said.
Sam Lilley was a pilot for PSA Airlines, which is owned by American Airlines. He’d originally studied marketing, Tim Lilley told NewsNation, but opted to follow his father’s footsteps and become a pilot after a few months in the workforce.
“I was so proud of him,” Tim Lilley said, adding that his son was able to obtain certification in just a few years because he “pursued it with a vigor.”
But Wednesday night, the Lilleys watched as reports first broke of a collision above the Potomac River — the same route Tim Lilley flew when he was serving in the military.
“You know, we saw there was an accident. I didn’t think there was any way it was Sam, but I knew he was on a trip,” he recounted. “So, through my wife, we got in touch with his fiancé and we found out what trip he was on.”
“And it was the same trip. And he wasn’t answering the phone,” Tim Lilley said. “So, I knew.”
Tim Lilley told NewsNation that “the only thing giving me any comfort at all” is Sam Lilley’s unwavering faith: “Sam’s right with Jesus, and I know where he’s going.”
“We just need time. My family, and time,” he added. “Lots of prayers.”
DC crash victim’s dad flew military helicopters
When Tim Lilley was in the U.S. Army, he flew helicopters on the exact route his son took Wednesday, giving him unique insight not only into the crash but D.C.’s airspace.
After watching the video, Tim Lilley said it seemed as though “Sam was flying just the way he was supposed to.”
“Totally speculation on my part. If they were wearing [night vision goggles], I’ve seen this before, where it’s almost impossible to see an aircraft where it’s backlit by a city,” Tim Lilley posited.
“I don’t want to blame, you know, my brothers that fly Black Hawks,” he clarified. “I flew them for 20 years, and I love those guys.”
It will take months to actually know what happened. Part of the investigation will revolve around an interaction with air traffic control in the final moments before the collision.
“I would like to know exactly what happened,” Tim Lilley said. “And I just want to find a way to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Nobody else should have to go through this.”
What we know about DC plane crash
Operations at Reagan National Airport have resumed after an American Airlines regional passenger jet carrying 64 people en route from Kansas collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, sending both aircraft into the icy Potomac River near Washington, D.C.
The body of the plane was reportedly found upside down in three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also found.
“We don’t believe there are any survivors,” D.C. fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said Thursday during a news conference.
The midair crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. local time Wednesday, shutting down the airport until 11 a.m. Thursday.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it cannot comment on the specifics of the crash at this time, and “it would be premature to speculate on the root cause of this accident.”
“NATCA mourns the tragic loss of life as a result of the accident that occurred at Washington National (DCA) airport last night between a regional jet and a helicopter,” NATCA President Nick Daniels said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected by this event.”
Michael Ramsey, Tom Dempsey, Kevin Bohn and Jacqueline Hughes contributed to this report.