US figure skaters, Russian championship couple killed in DC plane crash with military helicopter
Several figure skaters were on the American Airlines plane that collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter conducting a training flight in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night, killing everyone onboard.
US Figure Skating explained in a statement that many “athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships.”
The organization wrote, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
The statement concluded, “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
It remains unclear how many figure skaters were aboard AA Flight 5342, which included 60 passengers and four crew members.
US Figure Skating has not confirmed any victims’ identities.
A 26-year-old athlete named Spencer Lane sparked concern after he posted a photo via Instagram Stories before the plane took off from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport, according to Newsweek.
“ICT [to] DCA,” he captioned the eerie social media upload.
Lane also gushed about the training camp, posting a roundup of photos and calling it his “goal almost ever since [he] became aware that it was a thing.”
He wrote, “I learned so much new information that i can apply to my everyday life, and met so many amazing people!
“Thank you @usfigureskating and the local organizing committee for making everything happen. And lastly, huge thank you to all the amazing friends, coaches, and faculty that i have met over the last week, it was such an amazing experience.”
Russian championship couple Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also onboard, according to Russian state news agencies. They were 52 and 55, respectively.
While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not mention the duo by name, he addressed the “bad news from Washington today” in a press conference (via NBC News).
“We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash,” he said. “Sad news is being confirmed.”
