Elite American figure skaters, as well as two Russian world champions, were onboard a flight that crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The athletes were returning from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas, following the conclusion of the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The camp served as a training program for athletes vying for a spot on Team USA in upcoming world championships.
The American Eagle flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was also carrying Russian world pairs figure skating champions, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who had been living in the U.S. since 1998 working as coaches for skaters, including the Russian national team. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian nationals were onboard the flight, expressing condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash.
U.S. Figure Skating issued a statement expressing devastation over the tragedy and holding the victims’ families close in their hearts. The National Development Camp, which followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, was meant to accelerate athletes’ exposure to High Performance Programs and provide opportunities for selection in international competitions. The figure skating community mourns the loss of the passengers and honors their contributions to the sport.
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