On January 29, 2025, over Washington, D.C., one of the most disastrous mid-air collisions in aviation history occurred where American Airlines Flight 5342 came into contact with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and killed all 67 people on board both planes. The captains in the cockpit for the American Airlines flight were Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley.
Pilot profiles
Captain Jonathan Campos
Captain Jonathan Campos was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Since his childhood, he had an enormous enthusiasm to fly. He attended one of the most prestigious aeronautical universities in the world, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Upon graduation, Campos was hired by American Airlines, flying with them for six years. By all accounts, he was a phenomenally capable and committed pilot-one who never cut corners on safety or excellence in his profession.
First Officer Samuel Lilley
First Officer Samuel “Sam” Lilley, 29, of Richmond Hill, Georgia., graduated cum laude from Georgia Southern University in 2018. Lilley loved being involved in flying aircraft and had hoped to get promoted to captain, according to media reports. His father, Timothy Lilley – a retired warrant officer, working today with the Army as a private pilot too – says that he is proud to have his boy do those wonders. “Samuel was in the prime of his life. He was engaged to a beautiful, wonderful girl and we were all excited about her joining the family,” Timothy said. He remembered, too, the awful moment when he had finally realized his son had been in a crash: “I saw the crash on the news. I didn’t think there was any way it was my son. But then I watched long enough to figure out it was my son’s airline, and then I kind of knew his schedule.”
The collision and its aftermath
This collision occurred near Ronald Reagan National Airport as the PSA Airlines’ Flight 5342 operating for American Eagle was landing. A routine training mission of a US Army Black Hawk helicopter originating from Fort Belvoir was in the vicinity also. Preliminary reports showed both aircraft were flying routine flight patterns when the collision occurred. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the collision “absolutely preventable,” adding there was no failure in communication between the aircraft.
Investigation and ongoing inquiries
The National Transportation Safety Board, in concert with the Federal Aviation Administration and military authorities, has launched a full-scale investigation. The main focus of the investigation has fallen on:
- Communication by air traffic control: The communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers will be analyzed to ascertain whether proper procedures were followed.Â
- Flight path adherence: Determine whether both aircraft were on their flight paths and at their correct altitude.
- Collision avoidance systems: If there were any onboard Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems deployed and used appropriately on the flight.
An internal FAA report on the incident showed air traffic control staffing levels at the time were insufficient for the time of day and volume of traffic.
Community impact and tributes
The sad tragedy has torn apart a number of communities: the 14 US figure skaters killed, including Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, and coaches of The Skating Club of Boston-that is a great loss in the figure skating community.
American Airlines were utterly devastated for their crew and passengers. They said in a statement, “The company would look after all the families who lost their lives in this disaster and offer maximum cooperation to the investigating authorities.”
The future
As the investigation unfolds, it is the expectation of the relevant authorities that a description of causes for this terrible collision will be as comprehensive as possible. The aviation world, as well as friends and relatives of the victims, stands in the dark, anxiously waiting for the answers that may one day possibly prevent such tragedy from happening.
The tragic passing of Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley therefore puts into perspective the foreseen dangers in aviation and why utter, total, and absolute commitment to protocols by all concerned is demanded. It is their commitment to their profession and the memories they leave with us that all who knew them will forever applaud and cherish.
