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*No pictures from the crash will be uploaded to this story*

*This story is still actively developing so keep an eye out for updates*

A devastating aviation disaster unfolded near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, as an American Airlines jet carrying U.S figure skaters, their coaches, and family members collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter. The tragic accident sent the aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River, triggering a massive emergency response and an extensive search-and-rescue operation.

According to U.S. Figure Skating, the skaters on board had been returning from a developmental camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. In an official statement, the organization expressed profound sorrow over the catastrophe.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several esteemed members of our skating community were aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which was involved in a tragic collision with a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening,” the statement read. “We are heartbroken by this incomprehensible loss and extend our deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and loved ones.”

While the organization did not release the identities of those on board, reports indicate that the flight carried 60 passengers and four crew members. Additionally, an Army official confirmed that three soldiers had been aboard the helicopter. The collision occurred as the commercial jet was making its final approach to the airport, and authorities swiftly launched a large-scale rescue effort in the river.

By Thursday morning, Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly delivered grim news, stating that no survivors had been located and that the operation had transitioned from rescue to recovery. He confirmed that 27 bodies had been retrieved from the airplane wreckage, along with one from the downed helicopter.

Among those identified in the tragedy were two esteemed coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former world champions in pairs figure skating. The Kremlin acknowledged their deaths, and the Skating Club of Boston confirmed their affiliation as coaches. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for Team USA.

“There were other of our fellow citizens there. Bad news from Washington today,” said Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Thursday morning. Russia’s figure skating federation also extended its condolences but refrained from further comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided preliminary details of the accident, stating that the crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The regional jet, which had departed from Wichita, collided with a military helicopter engaged in a training exercise while on final approach to the airport. Officials have yet to determine the cause of the collision, but all operations at Reagan National Airport were immediately halted. Flights were expected to resume by 11 a.m. Thursday as dive teams continued searching the wreckage site, aided by helicopters from multiple law enforcement agencies.

Chilling images from the crash site showed the plane’s mangled fuselage partially submerged in the river, with rescue boats clustered around a visible section of the aircraft’s wing.

President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy, stating that he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident” and offering condolences to the victims. “May God bless their souls,” he said.

The International Skating Union (ISU), the sport’s global governing body, also issued a statement expressing shock and grief.

“We are deeply devastated by this tragic accident. Our hearts go out to the figure skaters, their families, coaches, and all those affected,” the ISU said. “Figure skating is not merely a sport—it is a deeply connected community. We stand united in mourning and will continue to support U.S. Figure Skating during this profoundly difficult time.”

The crash occurred in one of the most heavily monitored and restricted airspaces in the world, located just over three miles south of the White House and U.S. Capitol. Investigators are now working to reconstruct the final moments before the collision, reviewing air traffic control communications and flight data to determine how such a catastrophic incident could have occurred.

Air traffic control recordings reveal that less than 30 seconds before impact, a controller asked the helicopter crew if they had visual confirmation of the incoming jet. Moments later, the controller issued an urgent directive: “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.” Within seconds, the two aircraft collided, sending debris into the river below.

A staggering 300 first responders rushed to the scene, deploying inflatable rescue boats along the George Washington Parkway near the crash site. Floodlights illuminated the frigid waters as search teams meticulously combed the wreckage. At least six boats scanned the river using high-powered searchlights in the ongoing recovery effort.

This disaster marks the deadliest commercial aviation crash in the U.S. since 2009, when a regional airliner crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing all 50 people on board. It also echoes two historic aviation tragedies: the 1961 plane crash that claimed the lives of the entire U.S. figure skating team en route to the World Championships in Prague, and the infamous Air Florida crash of 1982, which saw a Boeing 737 plunge into the Potomac River, resulting in 78 fatalities.

As authorities continue their investigation into Wednesday’s catastrophic collision, the figure skating world, the aviation community, and the nation at large remain in mourning, grappling with the enormity of this devastating loss.

If you spot any errors or inaccuracies in this article, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your feedback helps ensure accurate and high-quality reporting. Contact me at bearsportsnews@proton.me.