A devastating midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle passenger jet Wednesday night has claimed the lives of all 67 people on board both aircraft, marking the deadliest commercial airline disaster in the U.S. since 2009.
The crash occurred as the regional jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The impact sent both aircraft plummeting into the icy waters of the Potomac River, shattering the plane into multiple pieces.
President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that there were no survivors, while officials detailed that 64 passengers and three Army soldiers had been killed. The soldiers were on a routine training mission at the time of the collision.
Among the victims were 14 people returning from a national figure skating development camp, including world-renowned coaches and young athletes.
Courtesy: The Skating Club of Boston
Victims Identified
- Vadim Naumov & Evgenia Shishkova – Former world champion figure skaters and coaches at the Skating Club of Boston.
- Jinna Han & Jin Han – Figure skaters associated with the club.
- Spencer Lane & Molly Lane – Young skaters traveling home from the development camp.
- Alexandr Kirsanov – A beloved figure skating coach who was traveling with two of his students.
Natalya Gudin, Kirsanov’s wife and fellow coach, expressed her heartbreak: “I lost everything—my husband, my students, my friends.”
The U.S. Figure Skating organization released a statement mourning the loss, calling it an “unspeakable tragedy” and pledging support for the affected families.
Authorities continue investigating the cause of the collision.
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