The devastating plane crash in Washington, D.C., involving a commercial airliner and a military helicopter, has left the entire country in shock.
The U.S. Figure Skating Association has verified that skaters, officials, and their families were aboard the flight.
Reports from the Russian news agency Tass indicate that former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those on the flight.
Tragically, there are no expected survivors from the midair collision.
Authorities have confirmed that following the incident near Reagan National Airport, they are now focused on recovery efforts. As of now, 28 bodies have been retrieved, including 27 from the passenger plane and one from the Black Hawk helicopter, as reported by ABC News.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the situation as “highly complex,” highlighting the difficult conditions such as strong winds, freezing temperatures, and poor visibility in the dark waters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that at approximately 9:00 PM local time, a passenger aircraft collided with a U.S. Army helicopter while nearing Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
According to reports, the commercial flight was transporting 60 passengers along with four crew members, while the military helicopter was carrying three soldiers, who were reportedly engaged in a training exercise.
Alarming CCTV footage from a nearby building has surfaced online, showing the moment of the crash. A large fireball erupts upon impact, and both aircraft subsequently fall into the Potomac River.
Skaters and coaches among victims
As more information comes to light about the heartbreaking crash, we are beginning to understand who was on the flight.
U.S. Figure Skating has confirmed that a number of skaters, their coaches, and family members were on the commercial flight after participating in a development camp that followed the national championships, which concluded on Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are devastated to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are believed to be among those on board,” U.S. Figure Skating expressed in a statement. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy.”
As the day progressed, additional details surfaced. Tragically, two young figure skaters, their parents, and two esteemed Russian figure skating coaches were among those who lost their lives, as reported by Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston.
According to the Associated Press, Zeghibe mentioned that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among the deceased, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
“This will have profound effects on our community,” he stated during a press conference, visibly moved by the situation.
Russian skating legends confirmed dead
Russian news outlets have also reported the heartbreaking news of the passing of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Kremlin has verified that the famous duo was on the flight. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were distinguished skaters, celebrated for winning the pairs world title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan.
Following their competitive careers, they moved to the United States to focus on coaching, starting at the International Skating Center in Connecticut, and since 2017, they have been with the Skating Club of Boston.
There have been reports suggesting that their son, Maxim Naumov, a competitive skater who recently participated in the U.S. Championships in Wichita, could have been on the flight. Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion, has finished fourth at senior nationals for the last three years, narrowly missing the podium this past Sunday while his parents watched from the stands at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
Figure skating community mourns
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a duo of figure skating coaches originally from Russia, have been residing in the United States since at least 1998.
The couple, who tied the knot on August 7, 1995, not only shared a personal bond but also performed together on the ice until 1998.
Both from Soviet Leningrad, Naumov, who is three years older than Shishkova, began his skating journey at the age of 10 in 1979. Shishkova started skating at 8, initially focusing on singles for three years before transitioning to pairs and teaming up with Naumov, as reported by Daily Mail.
The figure skating community and fans are mourning the heartbreaking news. One individual expressed on social media, “I remember watching them compete. Such a tragedy.” Another commented, “May they all find peace.”
Ludmila Velikova, their coach from childhood, shared her profound sadness over the tragic loss. “They were my favorite athletes,” Velikova told the Daily Mail.
“They were part of my first experience at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were not only talented but also wonderful individuals.”
She added, “Beyond everything else, they felt like my own children. Zhenya (Shishkova) started training with me at 11, and Vladik (Naumov) joined at 14. What has happened is truly heartbreaking. We’ve lost some of the best people.”
Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this tragedy. In such difficult times, the love and support from those around us can help us cope with unimaginable sorrow. Let’s cherish their memory and keep their families in our hearts as we await further updates on this devastating situation.