Evgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, were flying back to Washington, D.C., on Flight 5342 after attending the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Their son, Maxim Naumov, 23, a Team USA skater, was not on board. Days before the crash, the couple told Maxim they were “proud” of his fourth-place finish. “This beautiful and emotional performance is the result of teamwork,” they wrote in a social media post.
The plane, an American Airlines regional jet, collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter before crashing into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport. Officials confirmed 60 passengers and four crew members were on board. The crash site shows wreckage in shallow water.
U.S. Figure Skating expressed deep sorrow: “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy.” Reports suggest up to 15 skaters, many children of Russian immigrants, were on board. Russian media named 13 skaters, including Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet skater.
The International Skating Union stated, “Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family.” The investigation is ongoing as officials confirm the identities of those involved.
