TRAGEDY STRIKES: US Figure Skating Team Members Among Plane Crash Victims

Tragedy has struck the figure skating community as multiple US team members, coaches, and family were killed in a plane crash near Washington D.C. Our thoughts are with the victims' families and loved ones.

Several US figure skaters were on board the American Airlines regional passenger plane that crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday. The plane, carrying 64 passengers and crew, was flying from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. when it collided with a US Army helicopter in mid-air.

US Figure Skating confirmed that athletes, coaches, and family members were on the plane, returning from the National Development Camp and the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas. The organization expressed their devastation, saying, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”

The crash has resulted in multiple fatalities, with 27 bodies recovered from the airplane so far. Unfortunately, no survivors are expected. The incident is under investigation, with authorities working to determine the cause of the collision.

According to a source, as many as 15 people on the ill-fated flight may have been involved in figure skating. Officials have not yet confirmed the number of fatalities, but have suggested that there may be no survivors.

Russian state media has reported that renowned ice skating coaches and former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those on board the plane. Their son, Maxim, also a skater, may have also been on the flight, according to Russia's TASS and RIA news agencies.

The news has sent shockwaves through the figure skating community. Velikova, a former coach, was visibly distraught as she remembered Shishkova and Naumov. “They were my favourite sports people. They were part of my first attempt at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were talented and beautiful people,” Velikova said. “Apart from anything else, they were my children. Zhenya (Shishkova) trained with me from the age of 11 and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. They were like my own children. What's happened is awful. The best people have been taken away from us.”

Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the pre-1991 Soviet Union, was also reported to have been on board the plane, according to TASS. She was a coach at the Washington Figure Skating Club, as listed on the club's website.

The Kremlin has expressed its condolences to the families of Russian citizens who lost their lives in the crash. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “There were other of our fellow citizens on board. It's bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send our condolences to families and friends.” Russia's figure skating federation has also voiced its condolences to those who lost loved ones in the crash, but said it was unable to comment further.

US Figure Skating has issued a statement, saying, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts.”

Tragedy Strikes Figure Skating Community Again

The figure skaters who were on board the ill-fated flight had just competed in the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas, which took place from January 20-26. The event featured over 180 athletes, and was followed by a development camp on January 27-28 for nearly 150 up-and-coming skaters across various performance levels.

🚨 BREAKING: U.S. Figure Skaters, Russian Coaches Among Victims in Deadly Plane Crash 🚨

Tragedy strikes the figure skating world as six athletes, coaches, and family members aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk are identified. The… pic.twitter.com/oVpb5RZEuZ

— Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) January 30, 2025

The International Skating Union (ISU) has expressed its shock and sadness over the tragic accident. In a statement, the global governing body said, “We are deeply shocked by the tragic accident... We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board.”  The ISU also offered its support to the affected families and US Figure Skating, stating, “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy... Figure skating is more than a sport - it's a close-knit family - and we stand together.”

The ISU's statement also acknowledged the close-knit nature of the figure skating community, saying, “We remain in close contact with US Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.” Officials have not yet confirmed the number of fatalities in the mid-air crash between the airliner and helicopter, but have suggested that there may be no survivors.

This tragic incident bears a resemblance to a similar accident in 1961, when the 18-member US figure skating team died in a plane crash en route to the world championships in Prague.