The global figure skating community is reeling from a devastating plane crash in Washington, D.C., that claimed the lives of two former world champion coaches and several rising American skating stars.

Former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among those who perished when American Eagle Flight 5342 collided midair with a US Army helicopter on January 29, 2025. The plane, en route from Wichita, Kansas, plunged into the icy Potomac River, with authorities confirming no survivors.

US Figure Skating acknowledged the tragedy, stating that "several members of our skating community" were on board. The victims included 14 young skaters returning from a national development camp in Wichita, a program designed to nurture future champions.

Nancy Kerrigan, a former US champion and Olympic medalist, expressed her heartbreak. "It’s an unbearable loss. When you realize you knew some of them personally, it hits even harder," she said. Reigning world and US men's champion Ilia Malinin called it "a loss beyond words."

Doug Zeghibe, CEO of The Skating Club of Boston, confirmed that six club members were among the victims, including Shishkova and Naumov. Also on board were promising young skaters Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, along with their mothers.

"These were talented, dedicated athletes," Zeghibe said. "They represented the future of figure skating."

Four-time US champion Brian Boitano described the tragedy as "a huge loss for the sport," mourning the potential impact on a new generation of skaters. US Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland echoed similar sentiments, saying the victims "represented the bright future of Team USA."

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam confirmed that among those lost was Russian skating coach Inna Volyanskaya. Another Russian coach, Alexandr Kirsanov, was also aboard, with his wife describing the loss as "unbearable."

The accident has drawn painful comparisons to the 1961 tragedy that claimed the entire US figure skating team en route to the World Championships in Prague. A moment of silence was observed at the European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia as the global skating community mourned.

International Skating Union President Kim Jae-youl said, "The world of figure skating is heartbroken. Losing so many members of our community this way brings sadness beyond words."

Shishkova and Naumov, who had coached in Boston since 2017, leave behind a 23-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, a top US skater who was not on the flight. Their legacy, along with the dreams of the young athletes lost, will be deeply remembered.

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