Married world champion figure Skaters confirmed on american airlines flight involved in helicopter collision.
A tragic incident occurred on January 29 when American Airlines Flight 5342 collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C.
The collision, which happened around 9 p.m., resulted in the deaths of all passengers and crew aboard.
A Fatal Collision Between an American Airlines Flight and a U.S. Army Helicopter
Flight 5342 had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was heading to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided mid-air with the helicopter.
The aircrafts were reportedly 300 feet above the Potomac River when the crash occurred.
The flight had 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three individuals on board.
The emergency services have confirmed that they are not expecting to find any survivors.
This crash is on track to be the deadliest U.S. air disaster in over 20 years.
The involvement of married world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
Among the passengers on the ill-fated flight were married world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
The couple won the world championships in figure skating together in 1994.
Reports indicate they had been living in the U.S. since at least 1998.
Fears for Their Son Maxim and Other Skaters
It is feared that their son, Maxim, was also on board the flight, along with over a dozen other Russian figure skaters.
Maxim and the other skaters had just competed in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita days before the tragedy.
Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet Union competitor and coach at the Washington Figure Skating Club, is also believed to have been aboard the flight.
A personal loss for the figure Skating community
The U.S. Figure Skating organization has confirmed that several members of the figure skating community were on board the flight.
In a statement, they expressed their heartbreak and stated that they would continue to monitor the situation.
The International Skating Union (ISU) also shared their condolences on Twitter, calling the tragedy “devastating” and offering support to those affected.
“We are heartbroken to learn that Figure Skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family—and we stand together.
We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.”
Recovery efforts and continued search
CBS News reports that the wreckage of the plane has been found in multiple pieces and is now submerged about eight feet deep in the Potomac River.
Emergency services continue to search the river, but no survivors are expected to be found.