Dad of American Airlines pilot demands answers after ‘worst day of his life’ Sam Lilley was the second in command on the American Airlines flight that collided with an army helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington DC on Wednesday.
The father of the American Airlines pilot has spoken out following the crash. (Image: Getty)
The father of one of the two pilots on the American Airlines flight that crashed into a helicopter in Washington DC has demanded answers after the “worst day of his life”.
American Eagle flight 5342 (the brand name for the regional branch of American Airlines) collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night above the Potomac River, killing all 67 involved.
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The flight, coming from from Wichita, Kansas and operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines, had 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The Black Hawk had three people on board during its training flight.
As investigators probe the crash, Timothy Lilley, the father of pilot Sam Lilley, shared his grief, calling Wednesday “undoubtedly the worst day of my life”.
He recounted that he was in New York when he first heard news of the crash, initially thinking his son was not involved. However, when his son failed to check in as usual after the flight, his worst fears were confirmed.
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The father-son duo shared a love for flying, with Sam beginning his training in 2019 and working with PSA Airlines (part of the American Airlines group) for two years. Timothy himself had served 20 years as a helicopter pilot in the army.
He told Fox 5: “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.”
