'This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,' Timothy Lilley said Thursday.
Photo of Sam Lilley and photo of search and rescue efforts around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
An estimated 67 individuals were involved in the crash, with 64 being on the passenger jet. Authorities said Thursday they do not expect that any of the individuals made it out of the crash alive.Timothy Lilley reportedly has 20 years of experience as a helicopter pilot in the Army. He told the outlet he suspects the pilots onboard the Army helicopter on Wednesday had worn night vision goggles which prevented them from seeing the incoming plane.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in a video shared to social media Thursday the three soldiers aboard the Army helicopter were conducting a training flight at the time of the crash. He noted the crew was "fairly experienced" and the training was part of an annual requirement.The commercial jet, which was arriving to Reagan National Airport from Wichita, Kansas, had done nothing wrong in the incident, Timothy Lilley reportedly suggested.
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