14 Figure Skaters Among Victims of Army Helicopter and American Airlines Plane Crash

Several figure skaters were among the victims when an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter collided mid-air over Washington, D.C., on the night of January 29, sending both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The impact triggered a fiery explosion and led to an urgent emergency response.

On Wednesday night, American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided mid-air while the jet was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport. The flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was scheduled to arrive in the nation's capital at approximately 9 p.m. local time.

The tragedy took the lives of multiple passengers, including 14 figure skaters returning from events in Kansas, intensifying the impact of the disaster.

According to police reports, the collision occurred at approximately 8:53 p.m. Witnesses described a sudden turn of the passenger jet followed by a shower of sparks before it disappeared. The Army helicopter, assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, was engaged in a training exercise when the incident occurred.

A video captured by EarthCam showed the moment of impact, with a fireball erupting in the night sky. Air traffic control recordings reveal that the helicopter had been instructed to pass behind the plane shortly before the crash.

The Black Hawk's final transmission indicated that the pilot had visual contact with the other aircraft and requested visual separation. Just seconds later, a shocked reaction from the control tower was captured on audio as the two aircraft collided.

The flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had a crew of three. American Airlines established a family assistance center and provided a hotline for concerned relatives.

Several members of the figure skating community were among those on board, officials confirmed. Among the 14 victims connected to the sport were two teenage skaters, their mothers, and two former world champions who had been coaching at a renowned Boston skating club.

Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, stated that young athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with their mothers, tragically lost their lives in the crash. Also among the victims were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a married couple who won the world championship title in 1994 and later became respected coaches.

Zeghibe explained that the 14 skaters had been on their way home from a national training camp held after the U.S. Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Skating organizations in Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C., area also expressed their sorrow over the loss.

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran acknowledged the emotional weight of the tragedy for people in his state. Officials confirmed that Shishkova and Naumov had been on the flight and noted that their son, Maxim Naumov, had recently competed at the national championships.

The 23-year-old, a former junior U.S. champion, had narrowly missed a podium finish just days before as his parents watched from the stands in Wichita.

Rescue teams mobilized quickly, with approximately 300 first responders braving freezing conditions and high winds in the Potomac River to search for survivors. However, by early Thursday morning, authorities had transitioned from a rescue to a recovery operation.

DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly stated that there were likely no survivors based on the available information. He confirmed that search and recovery efforts would continue, to reunite victims with their families.

The frigid temperatures posed a severe risk to anyone who had entered the water. The National Weather Service warned that exposure to 35-degree water could lead to unconsciousness in as little as 15 minutes, with survival times ranging from 30 to 90 minutes.

The river's dark, ice-laden waters made the search more complex and dangerous for divers and rescue crews.

Reagan National Airport suspended all flights until 11 a.m. on Thursday as the National Transportation Safety Board investigated the circumstances leading to the collision.

Multiple agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Army, and the Coast Guard, were involved in the ongoing response. Officials have not determined where the Black Hawk had taken off before the crash.

As authorities continue their efforts, thoughts remain with the victims and their families affected by this devastating tragedy.