The father of the man piloting the American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C. has spoken out.
Sam Lilley, 28, was one of two people piloting the flight Wednesday, his father Timothy Lilley told Fox 5 Atlanta. All 67 people on board both aircraft are feared to be dead, officials say.
The collision happened Wednesday night as the American Airlines flight descended toward Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The aircraft collided over the Potomac River, where officials are now conducting recovery efforts.
“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Lilley told Fox 5.
No survivors expected after jet and helicopter collide
Their family has ties to the Savannah, Georgia area, Lilley told the outlet. The 28-year-old was also engaged to be married, he said.
Lilley was in New York City when he heard about the flight, he told Fox 5. He said his worst fears were confirmed when his son never checked in after the flight, as he always does.
Lilley served as an Army helicopter pilot for 20 years, telling Fox 5 that he has similarly flown over the Potomac River.
“I was a helicopter pilot in the Army for 20 years,” he said. “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.”
“From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet,” he added. “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.”
The mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger plane killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said on Thursday.
At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet late on Wednesday while it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just across the river from Washington.
The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
President Donald Trump told a White House news conference that no one survived.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital.