U.S. and Russian Figure Skaters Among Victims of American Airlines Plane Crash in Washington, D.C.
U.S. and Russian figure skaters, coaches, and family members were among the passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.
The American Eagle jet, operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training flight. The crash resulted in one of the deadliest U.S. aviation disasters in nearly 24 years.
Figure Skating Community Mourns the Loss
U.S. Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport, confirmed that several athletes, coaches, and family members were on the flight, returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.
The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that two young skaters, their mothers, and two coaches were on board. Officials have not yet released their names.
Russian authorities also confirmed that former world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the plane. The pair won gold in pairs skating at the 1994 World Championships and later worked as coaches in the U.S..
“Bad news arrived from Washington today. We express our condolences to the families and friends,” Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Crash Investigation Underway
At a Thursday morning press conference, Washington, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed that 28 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River and that no survivors were expected.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” Donnelly stated.
Authorities are investigating why the military helicopter was in the path of the commercial jet. Officials confirmed that flight conditions were clear at the time of the collision.
Details of the Crash
- Time of Collision: Just before 9 p.m. EST Wednesday
- Aircraft Involved:
- American Airlines Flight 5342 – a Bombardier CRJ-701 jet en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk – on a training flight from Fort Belvoir, Virginia
- Location: Over the Potomac River, about three miles south of the White House
Statements from Authorities
Newly appointed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the crash as “absolutely preventable” and confirmed that early investigations suggest both aircraft were on standard flight paths.
“Everything was standard in the lead-up to the crash. Obviously, something went wrong,” Duffy stated.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation into the midair collision.
U.S. Figure Skating Championships Had Just Concluded
The skaters were returning from Wichita, Kansas, which had hosted the 2025 Prevagen Figure Skating Championships from January 20-26. The event served as the final qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship teams.
The championships were followed by the National Development Camp, a program designed to prepare juvenile, intermediate, and novice-level athletes for international competition.
Olympic Committee Expresses Condolences
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), released a statement acknowledging that some of the victims may have been future Olympians.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected, including Olympians, young athletes, and their support staff,” Bach said.
What’s Next in the Investigation?
Authorities are analyzing:
- Air traffic control communications before the crash
- Flight data records from both aircraft
- Radar tracking information to determine the helicopter’s flight path
The FAA initially closed Reagan National Airport but has since announced a partial reopening. Officials expect a full reopening by Friday morning.
Aviation’s Deadliest Crash in Over Two Decades
If all passengers are confirmed dead, this crash would be the deadliest U.S. aviation accident since November 12, 2001, when an American Airlines jet crashed in New York, killing 260 people.
More updates will follow as officials release new information.
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