Additional Coverage:
- U.S. Figure Skating stars were on board American Airlines flight in fatal D.C. crash (newsbreak.com)
Tragedy struck the U.S. Figure Skating community late Wednesday when an American Airlines regional jet crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The jet, en route from Wichita, collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter during its approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Several figure skaters, coaches, and family members returning from a training camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships were on board.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed the devastating news and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
One skater reported at least 14 members of the skating community were on the flight. Among the confirmed passengers were Russian-born pairs skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
The married couple had won gold at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships and competed in two Winter Olympics. They had reportedly lived in the U.S. since 1998, coaching young skaters.
The Kremlin also confirmed Shishkova and Naumov were on the plane and offered condolences. While a list of other skaters believed to be on board has circulated, it remains unconfirmed.