The global figure skating community has been rocked by a devastating tragedy after an American Airlines flight collided mid-air with a U.S. Army helicopter, plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
Among the victims were two promising young figure skaters, Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with their highly respected Russian coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The fatal crash has left the Skating Club of Boston and the international skating world in mourning.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, fought back tears as he confirmed the heartbreaking news during a press conference, calling it a loss that would have “long-reaching impacts” on the skating community.
U.S. Figure Skating, in an official statement, expressed its deep sorrow, confirming that multiple skaters, coaches, and their families were aboard the ill-fated flight. The victims had just attended a development camp following the U.S. National Championships, which concluded Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.
Adding to the heartbreak, Russia’s Kremlin also confirmed the deaths of Shishkova and Naumov, who had been celebrated champions in their own right, winning the 1994 World Pairs Title in Chiba, Japan. After retiring, they moved to the U.S., coaching at the International Skating Center in Connecticut before joining the Skating Club of Boston in 2017.
The couple’s 23-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, a former U.S. junior champion, had just competed at the 2025 U.S. Championships, finishing fourth—narrowly missing the podium—while his proud parents watched from the stands in Wichita.
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Authorities have confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the American Airlines flight, while three U.S. soldiers were on the Blackhawk helicopter involved in the collision. Officials say flight conditions were clear at the time, but the cause of the accident remains under investigation.
John Donnelly, Washington D.C.’s Fire Chief, gave a grim update on Thursday morning, stating that the rescue mission had shifted to a recovery operation, as no survivors were expected.
The Skating Club of Boston, one of the world’s most prestigious skating institutions, was set to host the World Figure Skating Championships in March. The club has produced legends like two-time Olympic champion Dick Button, gold medalist Tenley Albright, two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, and silver medalist Paul Wylie.
This is not the first time the figure skating world has suffered such a tragic loss. The sport still remembers the 1961 Brussels plane crash, which killed all 18 members of the U.S. national team on their way to compete at the World Championships in Czechoslovakia. The disaster, which claimed former U.S. champion-turned-coach Maribel Vinson-Owen and her daughters, led to the cancellation of that year’s World Championships in their honor.
As the European Figure Skating Championships continue this week in Tallinn, Estonia, the International Skating Union (ISU) has released a statement expressing its deep shock and condolences, pledging to stay in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating during this difficult time.
This heartbreaking tragedy has sent shockwaves across the global skating community, leaving an irreplaceable void in the sport.
