Tragedy Strikes: U.S. Figure Skaters Involved in Devastating Plane Crash
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the world of figure skating has been struck by tragedy. On Wednesday, an American Airlines jet carrying U.S. figure skaters, their coaches, and family members collided with an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., before crashing into the Potomac River. This devastating news was confirmed by U.S. Figure Skating, leaving the entire skating community in shock and mourning.
The skaters were on their way back from a development camp that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita, Kansas. The organization released a statement expressing their profound sorrow: “U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
While U.S. Figure Skating has not yet identified the members of its team who were on board, the flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The collision occurred as the airplane was attempting to land, leading to a massive search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River. Although multiple fatalities have been reported, the exact number of victims remains unclear as rescue crews continue their search for survivors.
Adding to the tragedy, three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, according to an Army official. The incident has also drawn international attention, with Russian media reporting that two Russian figure skaters were on the flight. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed condolences, stating, “There were other of our fellow citizens there. Bad news from Washington today.” The Russian figure skating federation also extended its sympathies to those affected by the crash.
As of now, the cause of the collision remains unknown. All takeoffs and landings at the airport have been halted as dive teams and law enforcement helicopters conduct a thorough search of the crash site. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the media at a somber news conference, emphasizing the commitment to recovering the victims: “We are going to recover our fellow citizens,” she said, though she refrained from disclosing the number of bodies recovered.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the accident and offered his condolences, saying, “may God bless their souls.” The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. ET when a regional jet from Wichita collided with a military helicopter on a training flight while approaching the airport runway.
The crash took place in one of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspaces in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol. Investigators are now tasked with piecing together the final moments of the aircrafts, including their contact with air traffic controllers and the passenger jet’s loss of altitude.
- Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight.
- The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.”
- Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.
Approximately 300 first responders rushed to the scene, launching inflatable rescue boats into the Potomac River from a point along the George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport. First responders set up light towers from the shore to illuminate the area near the collision site, with at least a half-dozen boats scanning the water using searchlights. “It’s a highly complex operation,” D.C. fire chief John Donnelly explained. “The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders.”
This tragic event is a stark reminder of past aviation disasters. The last fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York, resulting in the deaths of all 50 people on board. Wednesday’s collision also brings to mind the crash of an Air Florida flight that plunged into the Potomac on January 13, 1982, killing 78 people due to bad weather.
As the investigation continues, the figure skating community and the world at large mourn the loss of those who perished in this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims during this incredibly difficult time.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
