Tragic Plane Crash in DC Claims Lives of Several U.S. Figure Skating Champions

A tragic plane crash involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. has resulted in the presumed deaths of all 67 people on board, including several members of the U.S. figure skating community. The crash occurred as skaters, coaches, and family members were returning from a development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Among the victims were two young skaters, Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with their parents and their Russian coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. U.S. Figure Skating expressed profound sorrow over the loss, stating, 'We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.' Recovery efforts are ongoing, as authorities search for the bodies in the Potomac River. This incident marks one of the worst aviation disasters in recent U.S. history, with significant implications for the skating community and beyond.