American Airlines plane crash claims lives of figure skaters and military members

A plane crash near Washington, DC has claimed the lives of several prominent figure skaters from both the US and Russia, as well as several US military members. The fatal incident occurred after an American Airlines passenger plane, Flight 5342 returning from Wichita, Kansas, collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion. There are, reportedly, no survivors among the 64 people aboard the jet and the three soldiers on the helicopter, says CNN. Recovery efforts are currently underway with 28 bodies being found so far.

The plane crash has sent shockwaves through the skating community especially, with several of its members having attended a developmental camp in Wichita before boarding the ill-fated flight. Notably, Russian World Champions and spouses Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among the victims. According to an NPR report, they moved to the U.S. in 1998 and contributed significantly to the sport as coaches.

The tragedy elicited widespread condolences, with U.S. Figure Skating confirming the presence of several of its community members on the flight. The International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach conveyed sympathies, acknowledging that Olympians might have been onboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board is spearheading the investigation, but any determination of the tragedy’s root cause remains speculative. CNN reported that officials from the NTSB are dispatching personnel to examine the incident scene thoroughly. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explained that the Black Hawk helicopter was on an annual proficiency training flight and that the “fairly experienced crew” had access to night vision goggles. 

Reagan National Airport is expected to gradually resume operations this morning, although passengers are advised of potential delays and cancellations.