Figure skaters were reported among the victims of the first major commercial plane crash in the United States since 2009, officials confirmed. The devastating accident, which occurred Wednesday, January 29, 2025, evening near Reagan National Airport, has left the sports and figure skating community in mourning.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston, expressed profound grief over the loss of six members, including two coaches, two teenage athletes, and two athletes' mothers.
© Getty Images"Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words."
The victims were returning from the U.S. National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. Officials reported that no survivors were expected from the crash, which involved 64 passengers and crew members aboard the plane and three personnel in the helicopter.
Mourning a Profound Loss
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, visibly emotional, offered condolences during a press conference. "Our hearts are heavy as a city," Wu said. "Our hearts are heavy as a city council, and we are here to provide the support needed for our community."
© Getty ImagesAmong those lost from the Skating Club of Boston were teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane and their mothers, Jin Han and Molly Lane. Coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 World Pair Champions who had been coaching at the club since 2017, were also on board. "Six is a horrific number for us, but we're fortunate and grateful it wasn't more than six," Zeghibe added. "This will have long-reaching impacts for our skating community."
Natalya Gudin, wife of coach Alexandr Kirsanov, expressed her devastation, saying she has "lost everything." Kirsanov, who coached two young skaters on the flight, had traveled to the development camp in Wichita while Gudin remained in Delaware. "I lost my husband, I lost my students, I lost my friends," she said. "I need my husband back. I need his body back."
The Skating Community Remembers
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that multiple members of its community were on board the ill-fated flight. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas," the organization stated. "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."
Officials have yet to confirm the total number of fatalities, though Russian media reported that two Russian figure skaters were aboard the flight. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered condolences.
A History of Tragedy
This is not the first time the U.S. figure skating community has suffered a tragic loss due to an aviation disaster. On February 15, 1961, the entire U.S. figure skating team perished in the crash of Sabena Flight 548 while en route to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The accident claimed the lives of 16 skaters, along with their coaches and family members.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe last major commercial plane crash in the U.S. occurred on February 12, 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo Niagara International Airport, killing 49 passengers and crew members.
Moving Forward
The impact of this tragedy will be felt deeply across the figure skating world for years to come. As investigations into the crash continue, the skating community mourns the loss of talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and loving family members who were taken far too soon.
Memorials and tributes are expected to follow as the tight-knit figure skating community comes together in remembrance and support during this heartbreaking time.
