The American artistic skating community suffered serious losses on Wednesday night, since six people with ties with the Boston skating club were aboard a passenger plane when it crashed with a helicopter from the US Army.
The authorities said Thursday that there were no survivors of the accident and that the mission went from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. Almost 30 bodies were taken from the Potomac River.
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A helicopter of the United States Park Police flies on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Carolyn Kaster/AP)
The CEO of the Boston Skating Club, Doug Zeghibe, identified those with ties with the club as athletes, Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, two coaches, Vadim Naumov and Shishkova Evgenia, and Jin Han, Jinna’s mother, and Molly Lane , Spencer Spencer’s mother from Spencer. , were identified as the victims with ties with the skate club.
“Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” Zeghibae said in a statement posted on social networks. “Skating is a very close community where parents and children join 6 of 7 days a week to train and work together. They are all like a family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe that six were of the Boston skating club.
Live updates: the military helicopter collides with airplanes near the Reagan National Airport
The bodies are located on the ground next to emergency vehicles, near the accident site after American Eagle Flight 5342 crashed with a black hawk helicopter from the army as he approached the Reagan Washington National Airport and crashed into the river Potomac, outside Washington, DC, in January. 30, 2025. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)
“These athletes, coaches, parents returned from the National Figure Patinage Field of the United States, after the American championships last week in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters tomorrow with the promise of being a champion of the Tomorrow.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, confirmed early Thursday that Naumov and Shishkova were among those who were aboard the plane.
Naumov and Shishkova competed in pairs during their careers. They won a couples title in the 1994 World Championship and competed at the Winter Olympic Games twice.
The American artistic skating said there were also members of his organization on board.
“The American artistic skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard the 5342 flight of American Airlines, which collided with a helicopter last night in Washington, DC“The organization said early.” “These athletes, coaches and family members returned home from the National Development Camp held together with the United States figurative skating championship in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are devastated by this indescribable tragedy and keep close to the families of the victims in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and disseminate more information as it is available.”
The international skating union said it was “deeply shocked” by the incident.
The rescuers in boats work as the sun rises on the accident site after a black hawk helicopter crashed with the 5342 flight of American Eagle, which approached the Reagan Washington National Airport, and crashed into the Potomac River , outside Washington, DC, on January 30. , 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. Artistic skating is more than a sport, it is a very united family, and we are together,” the organization said.
