23 Jan 2025; Wichita, Kansas, USA; General views of the logo on the ice before 2025 US Figure Skating Championship at Intrunt Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Top Figure Skaters and their coaches were among the 64 people aboard an American Airlines flight that crashed into an American army helicopter on Wednesday evening near Washington, DC
At the beginning of Thursday, at least 28 bodies had been drawn from the icy water in the Potomac River when the emergency crews shifted its assignment from rescue to recovery.
“We don’t think there are any survivors,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the country’s capital.
The aircraft wore 60 passengers and four crew members when it was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport. The Black Hawk helicopter had three people on board.
The beam was found up and down in at least three sections in waist depth water. It is the first major commercial airline crash on US land since February 12, 2009, when 50 people died near Buffalo, new
US figure skating issued a statement early Thursday morning.
“The US figure skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were unfortunately aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter last night in Washington, DC These athletes, coaches and family members returned home from the national development camp held in Conjunction with US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are destroyed by this unthinkable tragedy and keep the victim’s families close in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information when it becomes available.”
The American figure skating championships ran from January 20 to Sunday, although many riders remained for the advanced training camp.
The International Skating Association, the Sport’s governing body, issued a statement that it was “deeply shocked” by the crash.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy,” the organization said. “Figure skates are more than a sport-it is a closely composite family-and we stand together. We remain in close contact with us figure skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.”
The news of the crash was quickly spread across the skating community.
“Pray for anyone who on the flight from Wichita to DC,” us pairs Skater Luke Wang, a 20-year-old from the Baltimore area, posted to X. “Among the passengers were riders and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Pray for everyone on the flight from Wichita to DC. Among the passengers were riders and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.
– Luke Wang (@lueawang) January 30, 2025
Flight tragedy has touched on the American figure skating scene in the past.
In February 1961, 18 members of the US figure skating team and 14 other members of their travel party among 73 were killed when their flights crashed in Belgium. They were on their way to World Figure Skating Championships in Prague.
Among the killed were 16-year-old Laurence Owen, who just four days earlier won the North American figure skating championships in Philadelphia and a month after winning the US title. She finished sixth at winter -Sos in 1960.
There was no immediate word about the cause of Wednesday night’s collision, which occurred under clear conditions.
“On the final strategy for Reagan National collided it with a military flight on an otherwise normal approach,” said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom. “Currently we do not know why the military aircraft came in on … the aircraft path.”
-Field level media
