Married World Champion skaters killed in DC plane crash
The devastating aviation disaster in Washington, D.C., involving a commercial aircraft and a military chopper, has sent shockwaves throughout the nation.
The U.S. Figure Skating Association has verified that athletes, officials, and their relatives were among those on board the ill-fated flight.
Among those reportedly affected, as per the Russian news outlet Tass, were former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
No survivors anticipated in catastrophic collision Officials have confirmed that no one is expected to have survived the tragic midair crash between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter close to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
On Thursday, the head of fire and emergency medical services announced that response teams had shifted their efforts to a recovery mission. So far, the remains of 28 individuals have been retrieved—27 from the airliner and one from the Black Hawk helicopter, according to ABC News.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the situation as "extremely challenging," highlighting difficulties such as powerful winds, freezing conditions, and poor visibility over the dark waters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed that at approximately 9:00 PM local time, a passenger plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided while the aircraft was making its approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
According to reports, the commercial airliner was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military chopper had three soldiers aboard, allegedly on a training exercise.
Disturbing security camera footage from a nearby building has surfaced online, showing the moment of impact. A massive burst of flames erupts as both aircraft plummet into the Potomac River moments later.
Skaters and coaches among those lost As further information comes to light regarding this heartbreaking event, a clearer picture is emerging of who was on the doomed flight.
For instance, U.S. Figure Skating earlier confirmed that multiple figure skaters, their coaches, and loved ones were aboard the commercial plane after attending a developmental camp following the national championships, which concluded Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are devastated to learn that members of the figure skating community, including their families, close friends, and coaches, were among those traveling on the aircraft,” U.S. Figure Skating stated. “Our deepest sympathies are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking event.”
Later that day, additional details surfaced. Two young skaters, two of their parents, and two esteemed Russian figure skating coaches were confirmed among the casualties, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston.
Zeghibe informed the Associated Press that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane lost their lives, along with their coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
“This tragedy will leave a lasting impact on our skating community,” he stated at a press briefing, visibly emotional as he spoke.
Russian skating icons among the deceased Russian media sources also verified the heartbreaking loss of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Kremlin confirmed that the legendary pair had been passengers on the ill-fated flight. Shishkova and Naumov were widely respected in the skating world, having clinched the world pairs title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan.
Following their competitive careers, they moved to the United States to become coaches, initially working at the International Skating Center in Connecticut before joining the Skating Club of Boston in 2017.
Reports have suggested that their son, Maxim Naumov, an elite skater who recently competed at the U.S. Championships in Wichita, may have been on the flight. Maxim, a former junior national champion, has placed fourth at the senior nationals for three consecutive years, narrowly missing the podium this past Sunday while his parents cheered him on from the stands at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
Figure skating world in mourning Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both Russian-born skating coaches, had called the United States home since at least 1998.
The couple, who tied the knot on August 7, 1995, shared both a personal and professional partnership, competing together in pairs skating until 1998.
Both originally from Soviet Leningrad, Naumov—three years older than Shishkova—took up skating at the age of 10 in 1979. Shishkova, on the other hand, started at 8, initially training as a singles skater before transitioning to pairs and partnering with Naumov, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Fans and members of the figure skating community have been expressing their grief and disbelief over the tragic news. One social media user recalled, “I remember watching them perform. This is absolutely heartbreaking.” Another wrote, “May they all rest in peace.”
Their former coach, Ludmila Velikova, shared her deep sorrow at the loss of her beloved students. “They were my most cherished athletes,” Velikova told the Daily Mail.
“They were part of my first experience at the world championships and went on to claim the title in 1994. They were exceptionally talented and wonderful individuals.”
She added, “Beyond anything else, they were like my own children. Zhenya (Shishkova) trained under me from the age of 11, and Vladik (Naumov) from 14. This is a devastating loss. The world has lost some of its finest people.”
Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this tragedy. In these painful moments, the love and support of a community can help navigate the unimaginable grief. Let’s cherish their memories and keep their families in our hearts as more details emerge about this heartbreaking incident.
