A tragic plane crash near Washington, DC involved a pair of skating trainers who were also former world champions.
US Figure Skating confirmed that members of their community were on American Airlines Flight 5342, which took off from Wichita, Kansas. The plane collided mid-air with a military Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash happened on Wednesday, January 29. The plane had 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter carried three military personnel. Both aircraft fell into the Potomac River.
The victims included skaters, coaches, and family members returning from the National Development Camp, held during the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
Among them were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former world champion figure skaters and trainers. They had been coaching young skaters in the US since 1998. The pair became well-known after winning the 1994 World Championship in pairs skating.
Their longtime coach, Ludmila Velikova, shared that the trip included 14 athletes and coaches. She was relieved that Maxim, the couple’s son, was not on the flight.
US Figure Skating expressed their grief, saying, “We are devastated by this tragedy and hold the victims’ families in our hearts.”
The exact number of skaters on board has not been confirmed, but many were young athletes with hopes of future Olympic Games.
Spencer Lane, a young skater, had been excited to attend the camp. He posted photos and videos on Instagram, celebrating the opportunity.
A few hours before the crash, he shared a photo from inside the plane, showing the wing through the window.
Authorities have not confirmed the total number of victims, but search teams have recovered multiple bodies.
Cold water and rough conditions in the Potomac River have made recovery efforts difficult. Over 300 emergency responders are working to recover debris and victims.
One of the aircraft’s black boxes has been found, but it is unclear if it is the flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder.
