Who is Samuel Lilley? American Airlines pilot involved in DC midair crash has Georgia ties

A family with ties to Georgia is grieving after learning their loved one was one of the pilots killed in the crash between a small American Airlines plane and a military helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. 

RELATED: DC plane crash updates: All feared dead after midair collision

Samuel Lilley's father: ‘This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life’

What we know:

Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, confirmed that his 28-year-old son, Sam Lilley, was one of the two pilots aboard the American Airlines flight. "This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life," Timothy told FOX 5 Atlanta from Washington, D.C.

Timothy, who was in New York for work, initially couldn't believe it was his son's flight. "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. However, after failing to hear from Sam, who always checked in, his worst fears were confirmed.

The father and son shared a passion for flying, with Sam having started his flight training in 2019 and working with PSA Airlines, part of the American Airlines group, for two years. Sam was also engaged to be married.

Army Black Hawk and CRJ-700 collide midair

What they're saying:

Timothy, who served 20 years as a helicopter pilot in the Army, is familiar with the complexities of such operations. "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," he explained.

He believes the commercial PSA jet was following proper procedures, but the military helicopter made a tragic error. "From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead," Timothy said.

Sam Lilley (Courtesy of Timothy Lilley)

Georgia House Majority Caucus Whip James Burchett (R-Waycross) offered condolences to the families of Sam Lilley and Ryan O'Hara, the first officer aboard the American Airlines flight who is also from Georgia.

"While we will no doubt learn what went wrong and what we can do to prevent accidents like this in the coming weeks, I join all Georgians today in mourning the loss of these two young men and the dozens of others who lost their lives in this tragedy," he wrote. "Sam Lilley, the first officer onboard American Airlines Flight 5342, was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School and Georgia Southern University. As an aviator, Sam was following in the footsteps of his father, a former Army helicopter pilot. Sam was engaged to be married."

Sam Lilley's family waits for answers

What we don't know:

Now, Timothy faces an agonizing wait for answers. He described the ordeal of reaching the crash site, navigating roadblocks, and filling out forms at the airport, only to be told to wait for further information.

As of Thursday afternoon, officials reported that at least 28 bodies have 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 feared dead.

The Federal Aviation Administration has joined the National Transportation Safety Board in leading the investigation into the collision. As the investigation continues, Timothy's focus remains on seeking clarity about what led to his son's death.

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