A father is grieving the loss of his 28-year-old son, who tragically passed away in a plane crash.
The young pilot shared his father’s love for flying and was set to marry soon.
Sam Lilley was one of the two pilots on the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport on the evening of January 29.
His father, Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, is heartbroken over his son’s death.
Timothy was on a work trip in New York when he first heard the news about the crash in Washington, D.C. Initially, he dismissed the idea that his son might be involved, but as hours went by without word from Sam—who always kept in touch—his worry turned into despair.
“This is certainly the worst day of my life,” Timothy said after learning that his son was on the flight and had lost his life. He expressed his grief through a touching message on Facebook: “Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. It is so devastating to lose someone who was so deeply loved.”
Timothy, an Army helicopter veteran with 20 years of service, shared a profound bond with his son through their mutual love of aviation. Sam began his flight training in 2019 and had been a pilot with PSA Airlines, a branch of American Airlines, for two years.
He earned a marketing degree from Georgia Southern University in 2018 before committing himself fully to flying. Timothy noted that Sam initially pursued a marketing career post-graduation but soon discovered that his true passion lay in aviation. His father said Sam worked hard to turn his dream into reality.
In addition to his career aspirations, Sam was looking forward to marrying his fiancée in the fall. As Timothy processes his grief, he finds comfort in reflecting on Sam’s achievements, saying, “I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so much that I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I will see him again, but my heart is shattered.”
When asked what he wanted people to remember about Sam, Timothy described him tearfully as a cheerful and kind individual who embraced life. He emphasized that Sam was always willing to help others and lived out his Christian faith through acts of kindness.
Sam’s friend and fellow pilot, Skeeter Little, will always treasure their memories together. “He had a smile every single day. He had the best jokes,” Skeeter recalled. During their flight school days, Sam’s vibrant personality and humor made their experience enjoyable, including the delicious lunches he used to prepare.
“Sam’s greatest wish was to be a pilot, just like his dad. We’re all striving toward the same goal—to become pilots,” a mournful Skeeter pointed out. He described the aviation community as tightly knit, with everyone playing a part in ensuring safe flight operations.
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