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US figure skater Spencer Lane was among those who died after an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash happened over the frigid Potomac River, killing multiple passengers and crew members.
The American Airlines flight, identified as Flight 5342, had 64 people on board when it struck the military aircraft mid-air. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but icy waters and strong currents complicated rescue efforts.
Officials have not yet released the full list of victims, but families and friends online have confirmed that Lane was among those who lost their lives.
Hours before the tragedy, Lane posted on Instagram stories, sharing an update while aboard Flight 5342.
The post, now haunting in hindsight, is being widely shared online as fans mourn the loss of the talented athlete.
Russian figure skaters and coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the American Airlines plane that crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport, according to a report from Russia’s state-run TASS news agency on Thursday, citing a source.
US Figure Skating, the organization overseeing the sport nationwide, confirmed that “several members” of its community were aboard the American Airlines flight which collided with a helicopter in Washington, DC, Wednesday evening.
The passengers involved athletes, coaches and family members, who were returning home from the National Development Camp, an event held alongside the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
Full statement below:
US Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. 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.
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.
