RICHMOND HILL, Ga. (WSAV) - WSAV has confirmed through family that a Richmond Hill High School graduate was one of the 64 people who perished on the fatal American Airlines D.C. flight.
- Photo from SkyLens
- Photo from Tim Lilley
Sam Lilley was a First Officer on the flight, according to his father, Tim, who spoke to News 3 and offered his condolences in a tribute in a post on Facebook.
"I was so proud when Sam became a pilot," Tim Lilley wrote. "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."
Sam Lilley went to Richmond Hill High School and graduated from Georgia Southern University.
Lilley began his career in aerial survey with SkyLens. A spokesperson tells News 3, Lilley worked with the company during their 2021-2022 season.
"Sam was not only a skilled pilot and fantastic employee but maybe the most likeable person we know," SkyLens said to WSAV in a statement. "He was always wearing smile and loved flying. I was proud to see his career progress as he moved on to the airline industry. Sam remained close with many of our former pilots including our former and current Chief Pilots. Any aviation tragedy is painful to those of us in the industry but when it hits this close to home, it is crushing. Our thoughts are with Sam’s family and fiancé."
Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero also released a statement about the loss of Lilley:
"The Georgia Southern community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our outstanding alumni, Sam Lilley (‘18), who embodied the Eagle spirit and soared beyond in his career. We will continue to keep Sam’s family and friends in our thoughts as they grieve this tragedy."
You can hear more from those who knew Sam Lilley on News 3 at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.