A tragic plane crash near Reagan National Airport has claimed the lives of 14 figure skaters, including some of the sport’s brightest young talents. Among the victims were six members of the Skating Club of Boston, who were on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening. The crash marks the first major commercial plane disaster in the United States since 2009.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, expressed the deep grief felt by the skating community, noting that the victims included two coaches, two teenage athletes, and two mothers. “Skating is a close-knit family,” Zeghibe said. “We train together every day, and this loss has shaken us to our core.”
The skaters from the Boston club who were identified included Jinna Ha and Spencer Lane. Both athletes were accompanied by their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane. The coaches on board were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former World Pair Champions who joined the club in 2017.
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In a statement, Zeghibe acknowledged the horror of losing six members, expressing gratitude that the toll wasn’t higher. “Six is a devastating number, but we’re thankful it wasn’t more,” he said. “This will leave a lasting impact on our skating community.”
The skaters had been returning from a training camp following the U.S. national championships in Wichita, Kansas. The crash occurred when the American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter, killing all passengers aboard the plane, as well as three people in the helicopter. In total, there were 64 people on the flight.
Among those affected by the crash was Natalya Gudin, whose husband, Alexandr Kirsanov, a coach for two youth skaters aboard the plane, also perished. “I lost my husband, my students, my friends,” Gudin told ABC News. “I need him back.”
The University of Delaware, where Kirsanov had been a coach, also mourned the loss, with President Dennis Assanis extending condolences to the families affected. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all of the victims of this horrible tragedy,” Assanis said in a statement.
In a heartfelt press conference on Thursday, Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan fought back tears as she spoke about the deep emotional impact the tragedy has had on the figure skating world. “Tell the people around you that you love them because you just never know,” Kerrigan said. “Skating teaches you to get back up, even when it’s hard. That’s what we all must do together now.”
Jackie Brenner, a coach from Oklahoma City who had been in Wichita with the skaters, described the devastating loss as a blow to the future of U.S. figure skating. “These were the rising stars of our sport,” Brenner said. “It’s impossible to put into words how heartbreaking this is for the skating community.”
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The 1961 U.S. figure skating team tragedy, when an entire team perished in a plane crash en route to the World Championships in Prague, was also brought up during a press conference. Paul George, a longtime member of the Skating Club of Boston, compared the two tragic events, remembering how he was informed of the 1961 crash. “It was a vivid reminder of what we’re experiencing today,” George said.
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland paid tribute to the young athletes, noting that their dreams and talents represented the future of Team USA. “These young skaters embodied perseverance, resilience, and hope,” Hirshland said. “They will forever be cherished members of the Team USA family.”
The last major commercial plane crash in the U.S. occurred in February 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed during landing, killing all 49 people aboard.
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