ARLINGTON, Va. (WDCW) – Several passengers on board an American Airlines airplane that collided with a military helicopter Wednesday night were figure skaters, U.S. Figure Skating said.
The organization released a statement saying athletes, coaches and family members were on their way home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championship in Kansas when the collision happened.
Reagan National Airport closed following plane, military helicopter crash
U.S. Figure Skating said in a 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.”
The Kremlin has confirmed that Russian figure skaters, as well as other Russian nationals, were also on the plane.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters Thursday that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the pairs title at the 1994 World Championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice, were passengers.
“Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash,” he said.
He did not give details on how many fatalities there were.
Shishkova and Naumov are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the U.S.
The international governing body for figure skating said the global skating community was “deeply shocked” and heartbroken to learn that figure skaters and those close to them were onboard the flight that collided with a military helicopter.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together,” the International Skating Union said in a statement.
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency response units respond to helicopter wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency response units assess helicopter wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency response units assess helicopter wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)A helicopter flies above the Potomac River, south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as seen from Hains Point, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Emergency personnel are seen across the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency divers respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency divers respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content) Emergency units respond after a passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with an Army helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Va., south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(Photo credit: EarthCam)A police rescue team drives down to the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport after an air crash in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Wednesday, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)The US Capitol is seen in the distance as a police vehicle blocks the entrance to the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport after an air crash in Washington, DC, on January 29, 2025. A regional jet from Kansas crashed into Washington’s Potomac River after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, officials said Wednesday, prompting a major emergency response and grounding all flights. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)Lights from emergency vehicles are seen at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, after an air crash near the Potomac River on January 29, 2025. Multiple crews were responding Wednesday after an “apparent air crash” in the Potomac River in Washington, with Reagan National Airport reporting closed runways due to an ongoing emergency. (Photo by Ting Shen / AFP) (Photo by TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 30: Emergency response units wait on the tarmac as search and rescue operations are underway in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on January 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Early reports indicate a helicopter and airplane collided near Reagan National Airport. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Emergency equipment stages at Gravelly Point, north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, along the Potomac River, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Lights from emergency vehicles are seen at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, after an air crash near the Potomac River on January 29, 2025. Multiple crews were responding Wednesday after an “apparent air crash” in the Potomac River in Washington, with Reagan National Airport reporting closed runways due to an ongoing emergency. (Photo by Ting Shen / AFP) (Photo by TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29, 2025, after an aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. (Max Marcilla/DC News Now)Reagan National Airport on Jan. 29, 2025, after an aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a military helicopter on a training flight while on approach to an airport runway. It occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
The U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and was on a training exercise, had three military members on board.
Military aircraft frequently conduct training flights in and around the congested and heavily restricted airspace around the nation’s capital for familiarization and continuity of government planning.
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