Sixty-seven lives were tragically lost when an American Airlines jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport in January. Among those taken too soon was pilot Sam Lilley, a devoted aviator whose family is now speaking out—determined not only to honor Sam’s memory, but to save others from such heartbreak. Their message is clear: America’s air traffic control system is outdated, oversight has been lacking, and urgent reform is no longer negotiable.
Sam’s father, Tim Lilley, himself an experienced pilot, has been vocal about the longstanding issues plaguing Reagan National Airport. “It only takes a minute to look at the procedure going out of the Pentagon and know you should not have a helicopter circling east of the Pentagon while there’s aircraft, commercial aircraft, on approach,” Lilley told Fox News. These glaring procedural flaws are symptomatic of a larger, systemic problem that demands decisive leadership.
Thankfully, the Trump administration has stepped up where Biden and Buttigieg failed miserably. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has wasted no time addressing the crisis, unveiling an ambitious, multi-year plan to overhaul and modernize our nation’s antiquated air traffic control infrastructure. The proposal includes upgraded radar systems, new telecommunications networks, and six new air traffic control centers across the country.
Under Biden’s watch, warnings from aviation experts went ignored, infrastructure crumbled, and safety took a backseat to woke agendas. As Secretary Duffy pointed out, the previous administration “did nothing” even after receiving damning reports about failing air traffic control systems. Now, thanks to President Trump’s proactive America First approach, meaningful action is finally underway.
The Lilley family expressed gratitude for the swift response from Secretary Duffy and President Trump. “Secretary Duffy, he gets it,” Tim Lilley remarked. “We met with him just a few days after the accident. Everything that we asked for, he’s taking action on. I asked him to do this at the speed of business and not the speed of government, and he’s really coming through.”
The Lilleys’ advocacy highlights the urgent need to prioritize safety above bureaucratic inertia. Their son Sam had previously confided in them about the complexity and risks involved in flying into Reagan National. According to a New York Times report following the tragedy, understaffing and outdated technology at Reagan’s control tower contributed significantly to the crash. Even more troubling, the FAA previously discarded qualified air traffic controller applicants based on race—a dangerous prioritization of diversity quotas over merit and safety.
This tragedy underscores a fundamental conservative principle: the essential role of competent governance in preserving American lives. Infrastructure is not a partisan issue; it’s an American one. Conservatives understand that investing in our country’s critical systems is not big government; it’s smart government. President Trump and Secretary Duffy are rightly restoring this mindset, demonstrating that common-sense reforms and swift action can save lives.
Tim Lilley’s words should resonate with every American family: “Every family deserves to know their loved one is on a commercial aircraft that’s going to get there safely. This goes both sides of the aisle. We’re just looking for support from everybody. All Americans deserve safe skies.”
The Lilley family’s commitment to aviation safety reform won’t end with a single victory. Sam’s stepmother, Sheri Lilley, affirmed, “We are in this for the long haul. Tim and I are adamant that we want to make the name Sam Lilley synonymous with aviation safety.”
As the Trump administration moves forward with this critical modernization effort, let us honor those lost by demanding accountability, competence, and proactive leadership. America’s skies should never again become victims of political neglect or ideological agendas. The Lilley family has courageously turned their grief into a call to action. It’s a call we must answer—for Sam Lilley, for the 66 others tragically lost, and for the safety of every American who takes to the skies.
