Tragic Loss: Skating Community Mourns Athletes and Coaches in American Airlines Flight 5342 Crash

On January 29, 2025, American Airlines Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., tragically collided with a military helicopter near the capital. The flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members. Among the passengers were several members of the U.S. figure skating community, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

The Skating Club of Boston confirmed that two of its members, Jinna Ha and Spencer Lane, were aboard the flight. Additionally, world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were reportedly on the flight.

U.S. Figure Skating released a statement expressing their profound grief: "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts."

The incident is currently under investigation by aviation authorities to determine the cause of the collision. The entire figure skating community, along with the nation, mourns the loss of these talented individuals and extends heartfelt condolences to all affected families.

For more details, you can watch the following news report: