- U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that skaters, coaches, and family were on board the American Airlines jet that crashed near Washington, D.C. Russian-born pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among them.
Members of the U.S. Figure Skating community—including skaters, coaches, and family—were on the American Airlines regional jet that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., after colliding with an Army Black Hawk helicopter late Wednesday.
The skaters were returning from a training camp that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which took place in Wichita, and finished Sunday, according to the American governing body for the sport, U.S. Figure Skating. The flight that crashed, American Eagle Flight 5342, was landing at D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport after a two-hour and 45-minute flight from Wichita.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating communications director Alex Schauffler said in a statement given to Coins2Day. “U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.”
One U.S. Figure skater, Jon Maravilla, told Russian state-owned media organization RIA Novosti that at least 14 skaters were on board.
Russian skating stars
Among those confirmed to be on board were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a married couple from Russia who won the gold medal in pair skating at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, held in Chiba, Japan. The pair also competed at the Winter Olympics twice.
Shishkova and Naumov have reportedly lived in the U.S. Since 1998, and are involved in training young skaters. They are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston.
The Russian Telegram channel Mash published a list of 13 skaters who were reportedly on the plane, including many children of Russian emigrants to the U.S., but it has not been confirmed.
The Kremlin confirmed that Shishkova and Naumov were on the plane and expressed condolences to the families of Russians who died in the crash. “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,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.