Members of U.S. Figure Skating Team Were Onboard Crashed U.S. Aircraft Near Washington

US Figure Skating has confirmed in a statement that members of their community were onboard the American Airlines 5342 flight, which departed from Wichita, Kansas. The plane was en route to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter.

The helicopter, carrying three military members, and the plane, with 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair before crashing into the Potomac River on the night of Wednesday, January 29.

US Figure Skating stated that the athletes, coaches, and family members on board had been traveling home from the National Development Camp, which took place alongside the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

The governing body also shared that Russian-born ice skating coaches and former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were traveling with the group of young skaters.

The married pair had reportedly lived in the US since at least 1998, dedicating their time to training young ice skaters. They achieved global recognition when they won the pairs figure skating world championship in 1994.

Ludmila Velikova, the coach who played a key role in shaping Shishkova and Naumov’s skating careers from a young age, told the media that 14 skaters and trainers were among those on the flight. Velikova, who was speaking in St Petersburg, expressed relief that the couple’s son, Maxim, who had competed in Kansas, was not on the same flight.

US Figure Skating is now in mourning. They concluded in their statement, “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.”

Officials have not disclosed specific numbers of skaters or released the names of those who were aboard the plane. However, the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, featured athletes competing in singles, pairs, and ice dance.

This year’s competition included all four 2024 US champions. These are Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, and the duo of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea.

On the other hand, sports analyst Christine Brennan has highlighted the significance of the National Development Camp in developing young skaters. She noted that many participants aboard the plane were seen as future contenders for major competitions, including the 2030 Olympic Games.

One of the participants, Spencer Lane was thrilled to have earned a spot at the National Development Camp, a goal he had pursued since first learning about the program. To celebrate, he shared a collage of photos and a video on Instagram, posing alongside fellow camp participants and expressing his excitement about the experience.

Unfortunately, what he most desired has now turned into a tragedy. Just hours before the crash, Lane posted an eerie image on his Instagram story, seemingly taken from inside the ill-fated flight.

The photo, captured through the aircraft’s window, showed the plane’s wing before it took off. A caption on the image indicated he was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties from the mid-air collision between the airliner and military helicopter but have suggested that the likelihood of survival is low.

However, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has shared that so far, twenty-seven bodies have been recovered from the passenger jet, and one from the military helicopter. Donnelly added that at the moment, search efforts have now transitioned to a recovery operation.

Via posts shared on Truth Social, President Donald Trump has also addressed the plane crash. Vice President (VP) JD Vance also weighed in after the FAA disclosed what happened.

According to a statement shared on X by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was approaching Runway 33 at the airport when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter in mid-air. “PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines,” adds the FAA.

While the FAA is assisting with the investigation into the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the inquiry. The aviation administration also confirmed that they will be providing the public with continuous updates as more information becomes available.

In his first message, Trump stated that the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was on a routine and precise approach to the airport.

He then noted how the helicopter that the plane collided with had been headed straight at the aircraft for a long period.

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane [sic],” penned Trump.

At the end of his statement, he emphasized the gravity of the situation, expressing his belief that it could have been avoided, before exclaiming, “NOT GOOD!!!” In his second Truth Social post, the POTUS reiterated the devastation of the incident. Addressing the public directly, he stated, “God bless you all!”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed the incident. Speaking to TV presenter Sean Hannity, she acknowledged the severity of the crash and emphasized the administration’s focus on those impacted.

“I can confirm that President Trump has been made aware of the situation, and tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, D.C.,” Leavitt stated.

She continued, “That’s all I can confirm at this point in time, and I can just say that the thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those that are involved, and we ask the public in this area to please stand by for guidance from law enforcement, and allow them to do their jobs as they attempt to save lives right now.”

Like Leavitt and Trump, VP JD Vance spoke out about the tragedy as well, sharing a brief but solemn message on X. “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best,” wrote the VP.

As the investigation into the devastating mid-air collision continues, news outlets remain on the ground, providing live updates as more details emerge. According to CBS News, search efforts are ongoing in the Potomac River, where the wreckage of both aircraft—an American Eagle Flight 5342 regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter—remains scattered.

The grim search is made even more difficult by freezing water temperatures and treacherous conditions on the Potomac. BBC reported that about 300 emergency responders are working tirelessly under extreme circumstances, facing icy waters, strong winds, and low visibility.

Rescue experts warn that the harsh environment drastically reduces the chances of survival, with the cold shock response setting in within seconds of exposure. In addition to human remains, divers have retrieved luggage and debris from the crash site.

The wreckage of the plane lies in 5 to 8 feet of water, and a dive team has located one of the aircraft’s black boxes—though it remains unclear whether it is the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder. Meanwhile, the helicopter is reported to be upside down but largely intact.

Concerning the analysis of the aircraft’s flight paths, data from tracking websites shows that the regional jet was on a steady descent into Reagan National Airport from the south, while the Black Hawk was also descending along the Potomac River from the north.

While aircraft are equipped with safety systems designed to detect and prevent mid-air collisions, retired American Airlines pilot Doug Rice noted that the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is ineffective below 700 feet—which may have contributed to the fatal crash.