Elite American figure skaters, along with two Russian world champions, were on board the American Eagle flight that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River. The athletes were returning from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas, following the conclusion of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The 2025 Championships served as the final qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship teams, with the National Development Camp immediately following to help athletes secure their spot on Team USA for upcoming world championships.
Among the passengers were Russian pairs figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who had been living in the U.S. since 1998 and working as coaches for skaters, including the Russian national team. The Kremlin spokesperson confirmed that Russian nationals were on board the flight, expressing condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash.
U.S. Figure Skating expressed devastation over the tragedy and extended heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families. The exact number of American skaters on the flight was not immediately known. This incident is still developing, and updates are expected to be provided as more information becomes available.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
