The figure skating world has been shaken by tragedy after an American Airlines flight crashed near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan Airport on Wednesday night. Multiple figure skaters and coaches are believed to have been on board the aircraft, which collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
Among the passengers was skater Spencer Lane, who had posted an Instagram story from the flight just hours before the fatal crash. Team USA pair skater Luke Wang confirmed the heartbreaking news on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to DC. Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc. among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.
— LUKE WANG (@lukeawang) January 30, 2025
Meanwhile, Russian state media outlet TASS confirmed that former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on board. The married pair, who won gold in the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships, were revered in the sport, both as competitors and later as coaches.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the American Airlines jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter during its approach to the airport. The impact sent the aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, while the helicopter, on a routine training mission, also suffered catastrophic damage. Three soldiers were aboard the chopper at the time of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the collision occurred around 9 PM EST, just as the American Airlines jet was preparing to land. The aircraft crashed into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a routine training flight, according to an official statement provided to the Associated Press.
Rescue operations are currently underway as investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA work to determine the cause of the collision.
