A tragic plane crash near Washington claimed the lives of several members of the US figure skating community. The American Airlines flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter before plunging into the Potomac River on January 29.
Among those on board were former world champions and skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The couple, who had been in the US since 1998, were returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, alongside young skaters and coaches.
Their longtime coach, Ludmila Velikova, confirmed the trip involved 14 athletes and mentors. She expressed relief that their son, Maxim, was not on the flight.
US Figure Skating mourned the loss, stating, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
Many on board were aspiring Olympians, with sports analyst Christine Brennan noting the camp’s role in shaping future champions. One participant, Spencer Lane, had shared his excitement on social media before the trip.
