Aviation tragedy
It hurts so bad: Father of American Airlines pilot who died in fatal collision
The father of the pilot of the American Airlines passenger flight which collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter was looking forward to marrying this year.
Sam Lilley was among the 67 people who are believed to have died in the aviation tragedy which occurred in Washington DC on Wednesday.
In an emotional Facebook post, Tim Lilley said: "I was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. 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," he wrote on Facebook.
He further said: "Sam was the First Officer on the flight that crashed in DC last night. "
He said he felt devastated losing his son in one of the worst aviation tragedies witnessed by the USA.
No survivors
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that "there are no survivors" in the midair collision which took place between a passenger jet and a military chopper near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC on Wednesday.
"I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation," Trump told a presser. "The work is now shifted to a recovery mission, sadly there are no survivors."
He added, "This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital... As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so sadly. Our country is really mourning. This has really shaken a lot of people including the ones from other nations."
The American Airlines Flight, which was carrying 64 passengers, collided with the Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers onboard and both crashed into the freezing Potomac River in Washington DC.
Air traffic controllers had warned the US Army Blackhawk helicopter that it was on course to collide with a passenger jet.
Audio captured during the accident reveals audible gasps from the control room as the crash unfolded.
The collision occurred on Wednesday night, when the helicopter collided with a Bombardier aircraft, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, which was approaching for landing at Reagan National Airport.
About 300 first responders were mobilised immediately for the rescue operation, said DC Fire chief John A. Donnelly.
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