A couple who are skating trainers and former world champions of the sport were among those aboard the US plane that crashed near Washington.
US Figure Skating has confirmed in a statement that members of their community were onboard the American Airlines 5342 flight, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. The plane was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter.
The helicopter, carrying three military members, and the plane, with 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair before crashing into the Potomac River on the night of Wednesday, January 29.
US Figure Skating stated that the athletes, coaches, and family members on board had been traveling home from the National Development Camp, which took place alongside the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
This year’s competition included all four 2024 US champions. These are Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, and the duo of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea.
On the other hand, sports analyst Christine Brennan has highlighted the significance of the National Development Camp in developing young skaters. She noted that many participants aboard the plane were seen as future contenders for major competitions, including the 2030 Olympic Games.
One of the participants, Spencer Lane was thrilled to have earned a spot at the National Development Camp, a goal he had pursued since first learning about the program. To celebrate, he shared a collage of photos and a video on Instagram, posing alongside fellow camp participants and expressing his excitement about the experience.
Unfortunately, what he most desired has now turned into a tragedy. Just hours before the crash, Lane posted an eerie image on his Instagram story, seemingly taken from inside the ill-fated flight.
The photo, captured through the aircraft’s window, showed the plane’s wing before it took off. A caption on the image indicated he was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties from the mid-air collision between the airliner and military helicopter but have suggested that the likelihood of survival is low.
However, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has shared that so far, twenty-seven bodies have been recovered from the passenger jet, and one from the military helicopter. Donnelly added that at the moment, search efforts have now transitioned to a recovery operation.