Local

Training partner of the American Airlines pilot speaks after deadly passenger jet, helicopter crash

Samuel Lilley (WFTV)
(WFTV)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned that First Officer Samuel Lilley trained at the ATP Flight School In Daytona Beach in 2020.  

WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Pilot Skeeter Moreno, who trained with Officer Lilley, said, “This hurts so hard.”

Channel 9 reporter Daryl Mathews will have a one-on-one interview with pilot Moreno.  

READ: Army helicopter, plane crash: See impact caught on video, hear air traffic control (graphic warning)

An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River, according to the Associated Press. 

There were multiple fatalities, according to a person familiar with the matter, but the precise number of victims was unclear as rescue crews hunted for any survivors.

READ: Officials say U.S. Figure Skaters among those aboard passenger jet that crashed near DC

Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter, an Army official said.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but all takeoffs and landings from the airport were halted as dive teams scoured the site and helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in methodical search for bodies.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News on the app for the exclusive interview. 

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.


Beatriz Oliveira, WFTV.com

Beatriz Oliveira is a Content Creator for WFTV.com.

0