Father of American Airlines Pilot Finds Comfort Knowing His Late Son Was ‘Right with Jesus’

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The father of the American Airlines pilot killed in last week's mid-collision with a U.S. Army Helicopter says that despite the tragedy, he takes comfort in knowing his son, a devout Christian, is "right with Jesus." Tim Lilley, the father of first officer Sam Lilly, told News Nation's Chris Cuomo that his son was someone who was "right with Jesus" and is taking solace in his Christian faith despite grieving the loss, The Christian Post reports. 

"Sam's right with Jesus, and I know where he's going," he told Cuomo in a recent interview. "We just need time. My family … and time. Lots of prayers."

Sam, who was engaged to be married this fall, was killed after a UH-60 Black Hawk crashed into an American Airlines regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, sending both aircraft plunging down into the Potomac River in Washington D.C. All people on both aircraft–64 on the jet and three on the helicopter– were killed. It is considered the deadliest air crash in nearly 24 years.

"I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can't even cry myself to sleep," Tim Lilley, a former Army helicopter pilot, wrote on Facebook a day after the incident. "I know I'll see him again, but my heart is breaking. He was doing great in his career and his personal life. He was engaged to get married in the fall. It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much."

He told Cuomo that he first learned of the crash through watching the news and did not realize his son was onboard until Sam's fiancee later confirmed that Sam was on that plane heading toward Ronald Reagan airport in Washington D.C. 

Sam, who graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2018, initially studied marketing before switching over to flying and eventually joining PSA Airlines. The university released a statement calling him an "outstanding alumnus who soared in his career."

WATCH: Father of Deceased American Airlines Pilot Talks about Son's Faith

Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Tim Lilley/YouTube/News Nation

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.