A devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., has left no apparent survivors, claiming the lives of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft. The figure skating world is in mourning, as several members of the U.S. Figure Skating community were on the flight returning from a development camp following the national championships in Wichita, Kansas.
U.S. Figure Skating released a statement expressing their profound sorrow and offering condolences to the families impacted by this tragedy. The organization confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as they become available.
Search and rescue operations in the Potomac River transitioned to recovery efforts as hopes of finding survivors diminished. The flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers on board.
Tributes and expressions of grief poured in from the figure skating community. Olympian Josephine Lee shared her heartbreak on social media, offering prayers for all those affected, including skaters, coaches, and their families. Pair skater Luke Wang echoed these sentiments, expressing his devastation and prayers for the victims.
Other prominent figures in the skating world, including Hana Maria Aboian and Starr Andrews, shared their shock and sadness over the tragic loss. The International Skating Union also issued a statement of support, recognizing the tight-knit nature of the figure skating community and offering condolences.
The Kremlin confirmed that two former Olympic figure skaters, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were also believed to be among the victims.
