SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - An unimaginable loss in Washington, D.C. after a deadly collision between a commercial jet and an army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night.

One of the victims, Sam Lilley, was from the Savannah area.

Lilley was the co-pilot of the American Eagle Flight coming from Witchita Kansas. That’s according to a friend who tells WTOC he went to Richmond Hill High School with Lilley.

The friend also says Lilley Graduated from Georgia Southern University.

Lilley was one of 64 people on the plane. Three soldiers were aboard the Army Black Hawk.

Emergency crews continue recovery efforts at the crash site. Fire and Emergency Services say as of Thursday afternoon, 27 bodies have been recovered from the plane, and one from the helicopter.

The work to recover the wreckage from the Potomac is also underway. The jet fuselage was found upside down in three sections in the river.

The collision is the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since November 12, 2001 when an American Airlines flight crashed in New York. All 260 people on board were killed.

Thursday, President Donald Trump addressed the nation about the tragedy.

“This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history and a tragedy of terrible proportions. As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly, and we are a country of really we are in mourning,” said President Trump.

President Trump says he is immediately appointing a new acting FAA commissioner.

Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero released a statement extending condolences to family and friends impacted by this tragedy.

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.

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