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Oh, this is terrible. Several members of the US Figure Skating team were on the American Airlines plane that crashed into a helicopter in Washington DC on Wednesday night.
According to the FAA in a statement to People on Thursday, American Airlines flight 5342 traveled from Wichita, Kansas to DC, where they were approaching the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at around 9 p.m. local time when they collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. Both aircrafts went plunging into the Potomac River.
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Per CNN, three soldiers were aboard the helicopter. There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane. As of Thursday morning, no survivors are expected, revealed D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly in a press conference. Whoa.
Rescue efforts have now been transitioned to recovery efforts, with nearly 30 bodies having already been recovered from the crash so far. So, so heartbreaking.
Among those on the plane were many members of the U.S. Figure Skating team. Their exact identities have not been confirmed, but the team confirmed members of their community were onboard, telling People on Thursday:
“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.”
They continued:
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”
The 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships was held in the city from January 20 to January 26th. The outlet learned that 20-year-old American figure skater Ilia Malinin had already returned from the competition on the 26th, but other young skaters were returning home at the time of this accident. Oof. The team continued:
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
Along with these team members, Russian world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on the plane, Russian news agencies TASS and RIA reported. It is believed they have lived in the US and coached ice skaters since retiring in 1998, Reuters reported.
Their former trainer Ludmila Velikova told Reuters that their 23-year-old son Maxim Naumov (who is on the US Figure Skating team and competed at the event) was NOT on the plane, despite previous reports. But, again, official details about those on the plane have not been revealed.
Hear more about this unfolding investigation and see the harrowing crash footage (below):
Such a devastating situation. Our hearts break for all these lives lost and their family members. R.I.P.
[Image via American Airlines/U.S. Figure Skating/YouTube & MEGA/WENN]
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