Father of Pilot Killed in DC Plane Crash Is Retired Army Helicopter Pilot: 'Those Are My Brothers, and Now My Son Is Dead'

A grieving father with deep ties to aviation is mourning the loss of his son, one of the pilots killed in the midair collision between a small American Airlines jet and a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.

Timothy Lilley, a retired Army helicopter pilot, confirmed that his 28-year-old son, Sam Lilley, was in the cockpit of the American Airlines PSA jet at the time of the crash. "This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life," he told Fox 5.

Officials say the military helicopter was conducting a training exercise when it collided with the jet over the Potomac River. Timothy, who flew helicopters for the Army for 20 years, believes the crash was caused by a tragic error on the part of the military aircraft.

"From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error," he said. "It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead."

As of Thursday afternoon, officials reported that at least 28 bodies had been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac. All 64 passengers and crew aboard the jet, as well as the three soldiers in the helicopter, are feared dead.

Sam Lilley, who had ties to Savannah, Georgia, is survived by his family and a fiancé. His father remains focused on getting answers as investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board probe the deadly collision.