WASHINGTON, USA – The figure skating community is grieving the loss of athletes and coaches who were among the victims of the American Airlines Flight 5342 crash over the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
The flight, which departed from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport en route to Reagan Washington National Airport, collided with a U.S. Army helicopter before plunging into the water.
Among the victims was figure skater Spencer Lane, who had attended the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp in Wichita with his mother, Christine Lane.
Before takeoff, Lane posted an Instagram Story showing the right wing of the aircraft with the caption “ICT → DCA,” referencing the flight’s departure and arrival airports.
Figure skater Spencer Lane, who died in the plane crash, posted this photo to his Instagram Stories on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. | Spencer Lane/Instagram
The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, as well as athletes Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, were among those on board.
Christine Lane and Jin Han, the skaters’ mothers, were also on the flight.
Naumov and Shishkova, who won the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships in pairs, later moved to the United States, where they built careers as renowned coaches.
‘I’m Not Sure How to Process It’
U.S. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan visited the Skating Club of Boston on Thursday, January 30, 2025, seeking comfort in the community she has long been a part of.
Fighting back tears, she reflected on the devastating loss.
“I’m not sure how to process it,” she said. “We just wanted to be here and be part of our community.”
Kerrigan, who won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics—the same year Naumov and Shishkova claimed their world title—said she had been following news of the crash all night.
Learning that members of the figure skating world were on board, she said, made the tragedy hit even harder.
“I’ve never seen anyone love skating as much as the athletes who died in the collision,” she said.
Though she did not know the coaches personally, Kerrigan recalled seeing them over the years and noted their warm presence.
“They always had a smile on their face,” she said.
“To walk in here and not see that, I think would be very strange for everybody that comes here, especially those that are here day in and day out. It’s going to be hard.”
‘No Words to Capture the Depth of Our Sorrow’
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also expressed grief over the loss of the athletes and coaches.
“Today we join in mourning the profound loss of the passengers aboard Flight 5342 and all those impacted by this tragedy,” committee CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement posted by Team USA.
“Among the victims were talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and beloved family members from the U.S. Figure Skating community, all returning home from the National Development Camp,” Hirshland said.
“These Olympic hopefuls represented the bright future of Team USA, embodying the very essence of what it means to represent our country – perseverance, resilience, and hope. They were remarkable young people and talents, passionately pursuing their dreams, and they will forever hold a cherished place in the Team USA family.”
The figure skating community is left in mourning as authorities continue their investigation into the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to release initial findings in the coming days.
