A devastating midair collision near Washington, D.C., claims the life of a promising 28-year-old American Airlines pilot along with 66 others.
According to Fox News, Timothy Lilley, whose son Sam perished in the tragic incident, is now advocating for stricter aviation regulations and calling on lawmakers to implement crucial safety measures.
The January 29 crash involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River during the plane's descent into Ronald Reagan International Airport. This incident marks the country's deadliest air disaster since 2001, leaving no survivors among the 67 people aboard both aircraft.
Timothy Lilley brings a unique perspective to his advocacy, having served 20 years as an Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot before transitioning to medical helicopter operations and eventually joining a regional airline.
His experience spans all three aviation sectors involved in the tragic collision, lending weight to his calls for change.
Lilley shared his son's words about aviation regulations. He stated:
It's been said, and it is true, that most aviation regulations are written in blood. That means that something terrible has to happen for us to make a change.
The grieving father is specifically pushing for the military to cease flight operations at civilian airports, enhance pilot training programs, and require all aircraft to maintain operational Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) within Class B airspace.
Sam Lilley's journey to becoming a pilot began after earning his marketing and logistics degree from Georgia Southern University. His transition to aviation in 2019 led to rapid career advancement, achieving his commercial license the following year and becoming a flight instructor shortly after.
The young pilot had been flying for American Airlines' regional airline, PSA, for two years before the fatal crash. His father revealed that Sam was on track to join American Airlines' international fleet, with aspirations to captain Boeing 777s on transcontinental routes.
Sam's personal life was equally promising, as he was engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Lydia. The couple had been planning their fall wedding, with Sam's mother even visiting potential venues the day before the tragic incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation could take up to a year to complete, though preliminary findings are expected within 30 days. Investigators are currently working to retrieve data from the helicopter's water-damaged black box while examining audio recordings from Sam's aircraft that confirmed the pilots' attempted evasive maneuvers.
Brice Banning, the NTSB investigator in charge, reported that the crew had a verbal reaction and the data recorder showed the aircraft attempting to increase its pitch before impact sounds were recorded approximately one second later.
Timothy Lilley plans to testify before Congress and reports that high-ranking Army officials have been receptive to his suggested safety improvements. The investigation is also examining whether the airport's control tower was adequately staffed during the incident.
