Young US figure skater saved at final moment from DC plane crash after he was turned away from flight at gate over dog A YOUNG figure skater has revealed how he barely dodged the disastrous American Airlines plane crash with a Black Hawk helicopter that killed 64.
Jon Maravilla, 19, was set to board the doomed flight after a skating competition, but his dog saved him from plunging into the Potomac River near Washington DC.
Speaking with the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, Maravilla explained that he wasn't allowed to board the 5:18 pm ET flight because his dog was too big.
On Wednesday afternoon, the skater shared live updates on his Instagram as he awaited the flight from Wichita, Kansas, to the US capital.
While Maravilla drove home from Witchita, dozens boarded Flight 5342, and the plane took off without a hitch.
