Several figure skaters including former ice Skating World Champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers on an American Airlines regional flight that crashed near Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday
According to The Guardian report, Russian news agencies Tass and RIA reported that Shishkova and Naumov were among those onboard, while their son, Maxim, also a skater, was believed to be on the flight, though official confirmation was still pending.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the tragedy, stating, “There were other Russian citizens on board as well. This is truly sorrowful news from Washington today.”
World champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov among victims from plane crash https://t.co/yC2PHP0ytr
— 7NEWS Australia (@7NewsAustralia) January 30, 2025
US Figure Skating stated that athletes, coaches, and their families were on the flight, returning from a national development camp held in conjunction with the US Championships in Kansas.
“This heartbreaking tragedy has left us devastated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families,” the organization said in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
JUST IN: @USFigureSkating confirming several members of their skating community were aboard American Airlines Flight 5342.
— Jacqueline Matter (@JMatter_TV) January 30, 2025
They say their athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in in Wichita, Kansas
Full statement⬇️ pic.twitter.com/oqi4rTozJS
About the US Plane crash
The plane, carrying 64 people, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, DC, when it collided midair with a US Army helicopter. The crash led to an immediate suspension of all flights at the airport as law enforcement helicopters searched for survivors. A US official confirmed that three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, while multiple bodies have reportedly been recovered from the Potomac River. US Senator Ted Cruz acknowledged that there were fatalities but did not specify the number.
According to Reuters, as many as 15 people on board may have been connected to figure skating. Officials have not confirmed the total number of casualties but fear there may be no survivors.