Family Of Pilot Killed In Dc Midair Crash Calls For Air Safety Reforms, Thanks Trump Admin For Swift Action

The family of Sam Lilley, a aviator killed successful nan deadly midair collision betwixt an American Airlines pitchy and a Black Hawk chopper adjacent Washington, D.C., earlier this year, is speaking retired and hoping to move condolences into action.

"We [want to] make judge that nary different family has to spell done nan nonaccomplishment that our family and nan different 66 families person gone through," said Tim Lilley, Sam’s begetter and a aviator himself.

The January clang adjacent Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) claimed nan lives of each 67 group aboard some aircraft. Since nan incident, nan Lilley family has called for changes to aerial information protocols, peculiarly regarding subject and commercialized formation coordination adjacent nan Pentagon.

Tim Lilley argues long-standing problems astatine Reagan National, from outdated systems to risky procedures, contributed to nan tragedy.

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Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses nan media, aft American Eagle formation 5342 collided pinch a Black Hawk chopper while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and collapsed into Potomac River, U.S. January 30, 2025. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)

"It only takes a infinitesimal to look astatine nan process going retired of nan Pentagon and cognize you should not person a chopper circling eastbound of nan Pentagon while there's aircraft, commercialized aircraft, connected attack to runway 19 astatine broader Reagan," he said.

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He recalled erstwhile conversations pinch his boy astir nan complexity of flying into nan area. 

"Sam and I talked rather a spot astir nan flights into DCA and Ronald Reagan International and nan challenges that travel pinch that," he said.

Their concerns echo broader issues facing nan aviation industry. A New York Times report aft nan clang highlighted understaffing astatine nan Reagan power tower, and a suit claims nan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) improperly discarded qualified aerial postulation controller applicants based connected race. 

Tim Lilley besides expressed interest astir outdated aerial postulation power technology.

"The strategy conscionable can't support up pinch what's going on. This point was designed decades and decades ago," he said.

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Despite nan tragedy, nan Lilleys are hopeful astir efforts underway to hole what’s broken. They in installments Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for moving quickly aft nan crash.

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"Secretary Duffy, he gets it," Tim said. "We met pinch him conscionable a fewer days aft nan accident. Everything that we asked for, he’s taking action on. I asked him to do this astatine nan velocity of business and not nan velocity of government, and he's really coming through."

The Department of Transportation unveiled a sweeping three-year model to modernize nan nation’s aerial postulation power system. The connection released Thursday includes upgraded radar, caller telecommunications networks, and six caller aerial postulation power centers nationwide.

Crew retrieves wreckage of American Airlines formation 5342 successful nan Potomac river, Washington, DC, January 30, 2025.  (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Sam’s family expressed gratitude for nan administration’s support.

"I conscionable really [want to] convey President Trump for his activity successful putting distant this program," said Tim, who stressed that aviation information is not a partisan issue.

"Every family deserves to cognize that their loved 1 is connected a commercialized craft that's [going to] get location safely," Tim said. "This goes some sides of nan aisle. We're conscionable looking for support from everybody. I deliberation each Americans merit safe skies."

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Even arsenic changes begin, nan Lilley family says their defense is conscionable beginning.

"We are successful this for nan agelong haul," said Sam’s stepmother, Sheri Lilley. "Tim and I are adamant that we want to make nan sanction Sam Lilley synonymous pinch aviation safety."