Two former world champion coaches and 14 young skaters were killed Wednesday night when a passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army helicopter above Washington, D.C., in a tragedy that rocked the global figure skating community.
Among the victims were Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with young American skaters returning from a U.S. Figure Skating national development camp in Wichita. The crash occurred as American Eagle Flight 5342 from Wichita plunged into the Potomac River. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed there were no survivors.
"Not sure how to process it,"said former U.S. champion Nancy Kerrigan, breaking down in tears. "When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it's an even bigger blow."
Reigning world and U.S. men's champion Ilia Malinin called it a "loss beyond words."
"It's just so heartbreaking," Malinin said. "It's still hard to process. It's emotional for me and all the figure skating community.
"All of us are really devastated. We're so sad... It's really hard to wrap our minds around it."
Doug Zeghibe, chief executive of The Skating Club of Boston, confirmed six club members, including 1994 world pairs champions Shishkova and Naumov, were on the plane.
The passengers were returning from a camp designed to nurture future champions. Zeghibe noted that among those lost were skaters Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, whose passion for the sport Kerrigan described as extraordinary.
U.S. Figure Skating, in a statement, confirmed only that "several members of our skating community" were on the plane.
"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," the organization said.
The tragedy is also seen as a potential loss for future U.S. champions. "This is a huge loss for the sport," said four-time U.S. champion Brian Boitano.
The accident also revived memories of the 1961 crash involving the U.S. figure skating team, which claimed the lives of 18 skaters and coaches.
Among the other victims were Russian coaches Inna Volyanskaya and Alexandr Kirsanov.
Maxim Naumov, the 23-year-old son of Shishkova and Naumov, was not on the plane. International Skating Union President Kim Jae-youl said, “The world of figure skating is heartbroken," adding, "To lose so many members of our community in this way brings sadness beyond words."
A moment of silence was observed Thursday at the European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia.