The catastrophic plane crash in Washington, D.C., involving a passenger airliner and a military chopper, has shocked the entire country.
The United States Figure Skating Association confirmed that skaters, officials, and family members were on board the trip.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those allegedly engaged.
There were no survivors from the horrific collision.
Authorities say no survivors are expected following a catastrophic airborne accident between a passenger jet and an Army chopper near D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.
On Thursday, the fire and EMS chief stated that teams had moved to a recovery effort. ABC News reports that 28 dead have been discovered thus far, with 27 from the plane and one from the Black Hawk chopper.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the situation as “highly complex,” citing extreme conditions such as strong gusts, low temperatures, and restricted sight in the black waters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that about 9:00 p.m. local time, a passenger airliner collided with a United States Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
According to reports, the commercial passenger jet carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter carried three soldiers on a training assignment.
Disturbing CCTV footage from an adjacent building has surfaced online, documenting the moment of the crash. On impact, a tremendous burst of flames occurs, followed by both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River.
Skaters and coaches are among the victims.
As additional details about the fatal disaster surface, the puzzle of who was on board the plane begins to fall into place.
For example, U.S. Figure Skating previously acknowledged that some skaters, coaches, and family members boarded the commercial flight after attending a development camp following the national championships, which ended Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Later in the day, additional information became available. Two young figure skaters, two of their parents, and two well-known Russian figure skating trainers were among those killed, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston.
According to Zeghibe, skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, as well as trainers Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were slain.
“This will have far-reaching consequences for our community,” he warned during a clearly upset press conference.
Russian skating legends are proven deceased.
Russian news outlets also announced the terrible deaths of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Kremlin verified that the famous couple was aboard the flight. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were well-known skaters in their own right, winning the pairs world title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan.
Following their professional careers, they moved to the United States to explore coaching opportunities, first at the International Skating Center in Connecticut then, since 2017, at the Skating Club of Boston.
According to reports, their son, Maxim Naumov, a competitive skater who just skated at the United States Championships in Wichita, may have been aboard the flight. Maxim, a former US junior champion, has finished fourth at senior nationals for the past three years, missing the podium this past Sunday when his parents were in the grandstand at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
The figure skating community mourns the loss of Russian-born coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who had lived in the United States since 1998.
The couple, who married on August 7, 1995, not only had a romantic relationship, but they also competed on the ice until 1998.
Naumov, who was three years older than Shishkova, started skating when he was 10 years old in 1979. Shishkova, on the other hand, began skating at age eight and trained as a singles skater for three years before transitioning to pairs and teaming with Naumov, according to the Daily Mail.
The figure skating community and fans have expressed shock and sorrow at the tragic news. One user wrote on social media, “I remember them competing. “What a tragedy!” Another commented, “May they all rest in peace.”
Ludmila Velikova, their childhood coach, expressed her heartfelt grief over the tragic death. “They were my favorite sports people,” Velikova told the Daily Mail.
“They participated in my first effort at the global championships and won the title in 1994. They were talented and attractive individuals.”
She went on, “Apart from anything else, they were like my children.” Zhenya (Shishkova) began training with me when she was 11 years old, and Vladik (Naumov) was 14. What’s occurred is terrible. “We’ve lost the best people.”
Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy. In moments like this, the love and support of those around us help us get through unbearable suffering. As we await further developments on this terrible event, let us remember them and keep their families in our thoughts.