Victims of Washington DC plane crash include US figures skaters and coaches
Victims of Washington DC plane crash include US figures skaters and coaches
Share:
Figure Skating champions and coaches are among the first to be named as victims of the passenger plane crash with a US Army helicopter mid-air in Washington. A source told Reuters that as many as 15 of the 64 passengers and crew on board the flight may have been involved with figure skating.
Authorities have said that what was previously a rescue operation has now become a “recovery operation”, in a sign that there were no survivors from the crash. US Figure Skating confirmed athletes, coaches and family members were on the plane that crashed.
![[Emergency Crews Respond To Aircraft Crash Near Reagan National Airport]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/30/6/25/Emergency-Crews-Respond-To-Aircraft-Crash-Near-Reagan-National-Airport-4ps0njw5.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
The organisation said: “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.".
![[Emergency Crews Respond To Aircraft Crash Near Reagan National Airport]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/30/6/29/Emergency-Crews-Respond-To-Aircraft-Crash-Near-Reagan-National-Airport-aqu0c2ln.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Russian figure skaters and coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also among those on board the plane, Russian state-run TASS news agency reported. Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian nationals were onboard the flight but did not name the couple. He said in a statement: "Bad news from Washington today. We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash.".
