The United States is still reeling in the wake of the worst aviation disaster in decades.
Sixty-seven lives were lost in the tragic D.C. plane crash Wednesday night, including sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston and their parents, Donna and Peter.
The Livingston family was among the many victims of this devastating disaster.
Final post on social media
Pennsylvania-based news station WTAJ reports that Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two daughters, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were among those on board American Airlines Flight 5342.Everly and Alydia were talented figure skaters and members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, according to Daily Mail. They trained at the Ashburn Ice House, a hub for their local skating community in Virginia.
Just days before the crash, their father captured a photo of the girls in Kansas — one of many cherished memories of their passion for life and skating.
The sisters’ love for skating extended beyond the rink – they were widely recognized on social media as the beloved “Ice Skating Sisters.”
Their last Instagram post, shared just five days before the tragic crash, featured the sisters smiling in front of the ice rink at the championships, proudly wearing their ‘athlete’ lanyards.
”If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this,” the caption read. ”But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”
Just last year, 13-year-old Everly spoke with FOX 5 DC about her achievements on the ice, quickly becoming a rising star in the figure skating world. In a touching interview, she shared her thoughts on the challenges and beauty of the sport, expressing her hopes for the future.
”My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,” she said, beaming with a bright smile.
Family friend shares memory
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed several members of their community were on board the flight, and tributes quickly poured in. A growing memorial at the Ashburn Ice House reflects the deep impact of the tragedy.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to all affected,” the Ashburn Ice House’s management shared in a statement. ”The figure skating community is a close-knit, worldwide family, and our hearts are broken.”
The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club also expressed their grief in a social media post, stating: “Many of us have lost personal friends. We will hold a moment of silence at our next Club Ice in honor of those we’ve lost.”
Family friend Cassandra Atkins, a designer from Australia, created custom skating outfits for the girls through her business, Frozen Couture. Though she never met the family in person, she frequently connected with Donna, exchanging photos and videos of Everly and Alydia.
The girls’ mother, Donna, worked at Comcast, while their father, Peter, was a real estate agent. They were described as among the most dedicated parents, balancing the challenges of raising two skaters while spending countless nights in hotels, traveling between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia in recent months.
“Donna was the perfect mom,” Atkins shared with WFLA. “The girls were her world. They loved bright, standout outfits and always brought so much joy to the ice.”
Atkins also revealed that even off the ice, the sisters couldn’t stay still.
”If they weren’t skating, they were roller skating—or they’d put wheels on their boots. They always found a way to move.”
Deadliest air disaster in 24 years
The crash occurred when an American Airlines flight collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise. The commercial plane, preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, spiraled into the Potomac River after the collision. It was the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.
Many of those aboard the ill-fated plane, en route from Kansas, were from the figure skating world — athletes, coaches, and their families. The Skating Club of Boston has confirmed six victims, including Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 World Champion pair skaters.
Ice rinks along the U.S. East Coast are now mourning the loss of their skaters.
As investigators work to uncover the cause of the crash, communities across the nation mourn the loss of Everly, Alydia, and so many others whose lives were cut tragically short. Their vibrant spirits and love for skating will not be forgotten.