A U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp trip ended in tragedy when the plane they were in collided with a helicopter near Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2025.
Among those killed were 13-year-old competitive figure skater Jinna Han and her mother, Jin Han, along with other skaters, coaches, and parents from The Skating Club of Boston.
The flight was returning from Wichita, Kansas, after the event, which took place following the U.S. Championships. Authorities launched a massive search and recovery operation.
The Skating Club of Boston confirmed the identities of its members on board. Doug Zeghibe, CEO and Executive Director of The Skating Club of Boston, confirmed, “Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy.”
Jinna was a competitive figure skater known for her performances in major events, including the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final in the novice women’s free skate category.She had a reputation for strong technical skills, poise, and stage presence. In 2023, she was praised for her standout performances in The Skating Club of Boston’s Ice Chips show.
Doug Zeghibe spoke about Jinna’s talent and demeanor, describing her as “in it to win it, full of grace, a serious competitor but so nice about it and so supportive of her fellow competitors… just a delight but for a little 13-year-old just full of grace.”
Journalist and skating enthusiast Kat Cornetta posted on X, “I am saddened by the loss of everyone on that DC flight, but especially so by the loss of Jinna Han. She was a remarkable skater.”
She also reflected on a past write-up about Jinna, where she had praised her talent and dedication to the sport.
Jinna was destined for big things. Here's what I had written about her in 2023, after she performed at The Skating Club of Boston's Ice Chips (their spring show.) pic.twitter.com/NxKQOv0t5k
— Kat Cornetta (@KatCornetta) January 30, 2025
A Facebook user who identified her daughter, London, as a friend of Jinna wrote, “London and her friend Jinna Han, a shining star lost in the plane crash, will continue to inspire us. London is grieving![..] Just completely devastated!”
Before departure, The Skating Club of Boston had posted on Instagram, “Good luck to our Club athletes that are set to compete at the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships and 2025 U.S. High Performance Development Camp next week in Wichita, Kansas. We are so proud of you, and we can’t wait to cheer you on!”
Authorities confirmed that there were no survivors and stated that the search and recovery operation was launched overnight using all available resources.