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Two teenage figure skaters, their mothers and two world champion coaches from Boston were among the 14 members of the skating community killed when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday night.
Tragedy strikes figure skating community: 14 lives lost in plane crash (AP Photo)
UPDATED: Jan 30, 2025 23:21 IST
NORWOOD, Mass. – The figure skating world is mourning after an American Airlines flight collided with a U.S. Army helicopter on Wednesday night, crashing into the icy Potomac River and killing all on board. Among the victims were two teenage skaters, their mothers, and two world champion coaches from Boston.
A tight-knit skating community in mourning
Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe confirmed that teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with 1994 world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among those lost. In total, 14 members of the figure skating community were returning from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas, when the tragedy struck.
“This is a devastating loss,” Zeghibe said. “The skating world is small. These families spend six or seven days a week together at our facility. The impact of this tragedy will be felt for years.”
A family’s heartbreaking loss
Naumov and Shishkova leave behind their son, Maxim Naumov, a promising skater who has finished just shy of the podium at U.S. s for three years in a row. Maxim had returned home early, missing the fatal flight.
“Both of his parents were with him while he competed,” Zeghibe said. “His mom was always too nervous to watch, but his dad was right there in the ‘kiss-and-cry’ with him.”
The crash: What we know so far
Officials report that 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines plane, along with three soldiers in the Blackhawk helicopter, are presumed dead. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed that no survivors have been found.
Skating community reacts
US Figure Skating released a heartfelt statement: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family.”
World champion Ilia Malinin echoed the sentiment. “I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters,” he said. “The skating community is a family, and this loss is beyond words.”
A painful reminder of the 1961 tragedy
For the Skating Club of Boston, this tragedy brings back memories of another devastating plane crash in 1961, which claimed the lives of the entire U.S. team en route to the world championships in Prague. That loss set American figure skating back for decades.
“Almost half of the victims on board this flight were from our club,” Zeghibe said. “Losing coaches like this means losing the future of the sport. It’s heartbreaking.”
The sport pushes forward
The European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, will proceed as scheduled. The Skating Club of Boston also plans to host the World Championships at TD Garden in March. “Skaters are resilient, and they want to skate. I think also they come to the club and will come to the club as an opportunity to come together and to grieve together,” Zeghibe said. “We’re pretty busy and we can’t take a break. We need to keep moving.”
(With input from AP)
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Jan 30, 2025
