Former Army Aviator Champions Safety Reform After Son’s Fatal Collision

Tim Lilley, father of PSA pilot killed in D.C. midair, says ‘there were failures on multiple levels.’

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, October 09, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Sam Lilley served as the first officer on the PSA Airlines flight involved in the fatal midair over the Potomac River in January. [Courtesy: Sam Lilley]

Key Takeaways:

A fatal mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines regional jet killed all 67 occupants, ending a decades-long safety streak for U.S. scheduled carriers.
Tim Lilley, father of the regional jet's first officer and an Army veteran, identified multiple contributing factors, including poorly designed helicopter routes, Army leadership failures, ATC errors, and Black Hawk pilot mistakes.
Lilley is actively advocating for immediate safety reforms, pushing for extended restrictions on military helicopter routes and mandatory, continuous ADS-B out operation for all Department of Defense aircraft.
He criticized the Army's initial lack of apology and support compared to the airline's assistance, and questioned the Army's description of the Black Hawk crew as "highly experienced" given their flight hours.

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On a brisk night over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., a decades-long streak of no fatal accidents involving a U.S.-based scheduled carrier abruptly ended. Just southeast of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) on January 29, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a PSA Airlines CRJ-700, killing all 67 on board both aircraft.

The regional jet was operating flight AA5342— a daily service from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington. PAT25— the Black Hawk’s call sign—was flying a continuity of government training exercise around the capital region. In the wake of the accident, the families of those lost have pushed for swift safety reforms. Perhaps none have been as outspoken as Tim Lilley, whose son Sam was the first officer on the PSA flight.