Sam Lilley: Memorial service set for Georgia pilot killed in DC plane crash

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Family and friends are planning to say goodbye to a Georgia American Airlines pilot who was killed when his plane collided with an Army helicopter in midair near Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport in January.

Samuel Lilley's body was flown into Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport over the weekend ahead of the memorial service. 

The backstory:

The Jan. 29 collision between the American Airlines passenger jet and the Black Hawk Army helicopter killed everyone aboard both aircraft. 

An FAA report after the crash said that the air traffic controller received an alert that the plane and helicopter were converging when they were still more than a mile apart. The controller responded by asking the helicopter if it had the plane in sight and directed the helicopter to pass behind the plane. The helicopter responded that it did have the plane in sight.

It was the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighborhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground. There hadn’t even been a deadly crash of any kind involving a U.S. airliner since February 2009.

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Investigators are working to review the helicopter and plane's flight data recorders as they probe the devastating crash.

What they're saying:

Timothy Lilley, a former military helicopter pilot, told FOX 5 on the day of the crash that he learned the tragic news that his 28-year-old son was gone a day after the crash.

"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. 

After failing to hear from Sam, who always checked in, his worst fears were confirmed.

Sam Lilley remembered by his father

Sam Lilley was a pilot on the American Airlines flight and grew up in Georgia. Sam's father, who is also a pilot, recounts the terrible moments he first heard about the crash.

The father and son shared a passion for flying, with Sam having started his flight training in 2019.

Lilley was engaged and planned have his wedding this fall. He earned his certification to fly commercial airplanes just two years ago, according to FAA records, which takes 1,500 hours of logged flight time.

Friend Shane Therault had known Sam Lilley since they were boys growing up in southeast Georgia. 

"His life was just getting started really," he said. "Everything was coming together. He wanted to have a family. His path was finally set."

What's next:

Sam Lilley was honored with a water cannon salute as his plane landed in Savannah.

Timothy Lilley says the family will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Fine Arts Hall on Georgia Southern's Armstrong campus in Savannah.

The event will be open to the public.