It was a night that started with excitement and hope but ended in unimaginable tragedy. A plane carrying a group of young skaters, their coaches, and families—including two legendary figure skating champions—crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., after a mid-air collision with a military helicopter.
The devastating accident has left the skating community and the nation in shock.
The flight, American Airlines 5342, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was heading to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. On board were 60 passengers and four crew members.
Among them were young skaters and their coaches returning home from the National Development Camp, a prestigious training program held alongside the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.
The camp is known for nurturing future stars of the sport, and many of the participants were seen as potential contenders for the 2030 Olympics.
Tragically, the plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three military members. The crash happened on the night of Wednesday, January 29, sending both aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene, but the freezing temperatures and treacherous conditions made the search and recovery efforts incredibly challenging.
Among the passengers were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a married couple who were not only world champion figure skaters but also beloved coaches.
The Russian-born pair had won the pairs figure skating world championship in 1994 and had been living in the U.S. since at least 1998, dedicating their lives to training the next generation of skaters.
Their mentor, Ludmila Velikova, who had guided them from a young age, spoke to the media from St. Petersburg, Russia. She revealed that 14 skaters and trainers were on the flight but expressed relief that the couple’s son, Maxim, who had also competed in Kansas, was not on board.
“This is a terrible loss for the skating world,” Velikova said. “Evgenia and Vadim were not just champions; they were inspirations to so many.”
The U.S. Figure Skating community is heartbroken. In a statement, the organization said, “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 yet released the names of those on the plane, but the skating championships in Wichita featured athletes competing in singles, pairs, and ice dance, including all four 2024 U.S. champions: Madison Chock and Evan Bates, Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn, and the duo of Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea.
The National Development Camp, where the young skaters had been training, is a crucial stepping stone for aspiring athletes.
Sports analyst Christine Brennan emphasized its importance, saying, “Many of these young skaters were seen as future stars, potential Olympians. This tragedy has cut short so many dreams.”
One of those young skaters was Spencer Lane, who had been thrilled to earn a spot at the camp. Just hours before the crash, he posted a collage of photos and a video on Instagram, celebrating his achievement.
“This has been my dream for so long,” he wrote. “I can’t believe I’m here with all these amazing people.” Tragically, his final Instagram story showed an eerie image of the plane’s wing, taken from his window seat, with a caption indicating he was on his way from Wichita to Washington.
As rescue teams worked through the night, the grim reality began to set in. DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly reported that 27 bodies had been recovered from the passenger jet and one from the helicopter.
He confirmed that the operation had shifted from rescue to recovery, given the low likelihood of survival in the freezing river. Divers faced brutal conditions, with icy waters, strong winds, and low visibility.
They retrieved not only human remains but also luggage and debris from the crash site. One of the plane’s black boxes—either the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder—was found, but it remains unclear which one.
The wreckage of the plane lies in 5 to 8 feet of water, while the helicopter was found upside down but largely intact.
Flight data shows that the regional jet was descending steadily from the south toward Reagan National Airport, while the Black Hawk was descending along the Potomac River from the north.
Retired American Airlines pilot Doug Rice explained that the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), designed to prevent mid-air collisions, is ineffective below 700 feet—a factor that may have contributed to the crash.
President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy on Truth Social, expressing his shock and frustration. “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?” he wrote. “This could have been avoided. NOT GOOD!!!” In a second post, he added, “God bless you all!”
Vice President JD Vance also shared a heartfelt 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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to TV presenter Sean Hannity, confirming that President Trump had been briefed on the situation.
“Tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, D.C.,” she said. “The thoughts and prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those involved.
We ask the public to stand by for guidance from law enforcement as they work to save lives.”
As the investigation continues, the nation mourns the lives lost in this heartbreaking accident. The skating community, in particular, has been deeply affected, losing not only young talents but also two of its most respected figures in Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
Their legacy, however, will live on through the countless skaters they inspired and trained.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation, with the FAA promising continuous updates as more information becomes available.
For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and honoring the memories of those who lost their lives in this tragic event.
