US Figure Skating confirmed the tragic involvement of several skaters in a catastrophic accident when an American Airlines regional passenger plane crashed near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday. The plane, en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC, collided midair with a US Army helicopter. The incident, which occurred around 9 PM, resulted in multiple fatalities. The Federal Aviation Administration indicated the crash took place in one of the most heavily regulated airspaces, merely three miles from the White House and Capitol.
The regional jet carried 64 passengers and crew members, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from the national development camp associated with the US championships in Kansas. A source revealed to Reuters that up to 15 individuals connected to the figure skating community might have been on board. Russian state media reported that renowned ice skating coaches and former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers. Additionally, Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet Union competitor, was also listed as a passenger by Russia's Tass agency. Their son, Maxim Naumov, who participated in the US figure skating championships in Wichita, may have been on the flight as well.
US Senator Ted Cruz emphasized the gravity of the situation in his statement:
"We know there are fatalities." – US Senator Ted Cruz
The collision with the military helicopter involved three soldiers, further highlighting the scale of this disaster. Emergency response teams recovered several bodies from the Potomac River, underscoring the desperate nature of search and rescue efforts that followed the mishap.
The crash has sent shockwaves through both the aviation and sports communities, particularly due to its proximity to significant national landmarks and institutions. The midair collision unfolded under tightly controlled airspace conditions, raising questions about the circumstances leading to such a tragic event.