KUALA LUMPUR – A tragic midair collision near Washington DC has claimed the lives of all 67 people onboard, including 14 US and Russian figure skaters, according to officials.
The American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into each other Wednesday night near Reagan Washington National Airport. Recovery efforts are ongoing, with more than 40 bodies retrieved from the Potomac River as of Thursday afternoon.
The crash has sent shockwaves through the figure skating world, evoking painful memories of the 1961 plane crash that wiped out the entire US figure skating team en route to the World Championships in Prague.
According to reports, among those lost in Wednesday’s disaster were two promising young American skaters, their mothers, and two esteemed Russian coaches who had made a lasting impact on the sport.
The teenage skaters, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, both 16, were rising stars in the figure skating world. The two had been returning from a developmental training camp associated with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Accompanying them were their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, who had been travelling with them to competitions and training sessions across the country.
Also on board were Russian figure skating legends Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a husband-and-wife coaching duo and former world champions. Shishkova and Naumov had dominated the pairs skating scene in the 1990s, winning the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships and securing multiple European and national titles for Russia before retiring from competition.
After moving to the US, they dedicated their lives to coaching the next generation of skaters, bringing Russian precision and discipline to their American students.
“They had high standards, but they were so kind,” said Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, where Lane trained.
“Spencer was rocketing to the top of his sport – he had natural grace, beauty, and an understanding of ice and speed. Jinna was a serious competitor, but so nice about it. She was loved by all,” the BBC reported him as saying.
The couple leaves behind a 24-year-old son, Max Naumov, who followed in their footsteps as a competitive skater.
US Figure Skating released a statement expressing its grief, saying, “We are heartbroken to confirm that several members of our skating family were on board the flight. This is a devastating loss for the sport, and our thoughts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of those we lost.”
The news has left the tight-knit figure skating world in mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the globe.
Investigation underway
Authorities are working to determine the cause of the crash, analysing flight paths, air traffic control communications, and cockpit recordings. One black box has been recovered from the Potomac, and search efforts continue despite the frigid conditions.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the helicopter crew was conducting an annual night evaluation flight using night vision goggles at the time of the collision.
“It was a fairly experienced crew performing a required annual evaluation,” he said. Investigators are assessing whether the aircraft were operating within designated flight corridors and at the correct altitude when the accident occurred.
President Donald Trump called the crash “a tragedy of terrible proportions,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and vowing a full investigation.
“Our hearts are shattered. As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul taken from us so suddenly,” he said
The tragedy has also drawn international attention, with the Kremlin confirming that Russian citizens were among the dead and extending their condolences to the families of Shishkova and Naumov.
Another Russian victim was Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet skater who had been active in the sport during the 1980s and later worked as a coach and choreographer. According to Russian news agency Tass, Volyanskaya had been traveling to the US for coaching work when she perished in the crash.
As recovery efforts continue, tributes have poured in from skating clubs, athletes, and fans worldwide. – January 31, 2025
