Washington Teen figure skaters returning from a national meet with their mothers and coaches, together with a crew of union steamfitters from the Washington, D.C., region, were killed in a collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane.
When the jet struck a Blackhawk chopper carrying three soldiers late Wednesday, they were among the 60 passengers and four crew members on board. Officials said the collision between the jet and chopper over the Potomac River appears to have killed everyone on board both planes.
Although it might take some time, John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital, expressed his confidence that the bodies of those killed in the crash will be found.
According to a statement from the organization, a number of the skaters on the flight had participated in a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which concluded in Wichita, Kansas, on Sunday.
In a statement, U.S. Figure Skating said, “We are deeply saddened by this unimaginable tragedy and hold the families of the victims close to our hearts.”
For those looking for information about family members who might have been on Wednesday’s downed flight, American Airlines established facilities in Wichita and Washington in addition to a hotline. The number to call the helpline is 1-800 679 8215.
The following passengers have been confirmed so far in the crash on Wednesday night:
From the military
According to officials, the bodies of the three troops on the chopper have been found.
According to officials, the remains will be kept at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware’s Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. The dignified transfer of fallen service members is coordinated by that office.
The officials discussed unannounced specifics while speaking on condition of anonymity. The crew’s identities have not been made public.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the three troops were part of a reasonably experienced crew and that they were participating in an annual night proficiency training flight. Officials were informing family, therefore their names had not been made public, he added.
From the Skating Club of Boston
At a news conference on Thursday, Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, stated that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, as well as their mothers and coaches Vadim Naumov and Eugenia Shishkova, were among those slain.
Han was on her way back from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships with Lane. According to Zeghibe, Jinna, who was around 15, and Spencer, who was around 16, were on the trip with their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane.
Naumov and Shishkova were also on the airplane. At the 1994 world championships in Chiba, Japan, they took home the pairs title. Additionally, the Russian-born duo participated in two Olympic competitions.
They are listed as coaches by the Boston Skating Club. Maxim Naumov, their son and a U.S. competitive figure skater, was not on the trip.
With obvious emotion, Zeghibe stated that this will have a lasting effect on our community.
In the American figure skating community, this is not the first air disaster. When Sabena Flight 548 crashed on February 15, 1961, in Berg-Kampenhout, approximately 45 minutes outside of Brussels, the 18-member U.S. team that was scheduled to compete in the world championships in Prague perished. Four skating officials, six U.S. coaches, and a few family members were also slain.
From a Maryland union
According to a social media post made by union leaders on Thursday, four steamfitters who were all members of a United Association union local in suburban Maryland were among the other people killed.
“As we continue to gather more information in the coming days, our focus now is on providing support and care to the families of our Brothers,” UA General President Mark McManus and Local 602’s business manager Chris Madello wrote in their message.
The Associated Press
