NORWOOD, Mass. — A tragic incident claimed the lives of 14 individuals from the skating community, including two young figure skaters, their mothers, and two former world champions who were coaching at a renowned skating club in Boston. The disaster occurred when an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday night, resulting in the aircraft crashing into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
According to Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, the victims included Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, alongside their mothers. Also among the deceased were 1994 pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov from Russia. These 14 individuals were returning from a national development camp focused on nurturing young talents after the recent U.S. Championships held in Wichita, Kansas. Clubs in Philadelphia and the D.C. area have also expressed their sympathies to the grieving community.
Standing in a rink named after her, 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright stated, “We came here because we needed to be together.” She added, “We’re family, and it’s a community; the skaters who were on that plane— they’re our family, too.” Visibly emotional, Albright conveyed her disbelief at the tragedy, stating, “It’s just terrible, and it’s sad.” She expressed the importance of solidarity, which was reflected in the numerous embraces shared among attendees.
The Kremlin has confirmed the presence of Shishkova and Naumov on the flight. Their son, Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion who has achieved fourth-place finishes at senior nationals for the past three years, had flown back home on Monday after participating in the competition in Wichita. Zeghibe noted that “He had no reason to stay,” following his parents’ return from cheering for him.
Maxim Naumov performed in front of both his parents during the event. Zeghibe recounted how Shishkova was often too anxious to watch her son skate, while Naumov provided encouragement from the sidelines during his performances.
In total, 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight, alongside three military personnel on the helicopter, are presumed dead following the crash in Washington. Though no immediate cause has been determined, authorities reported that the weather conditions were clear at the time of the incident, which transpired as the jet was approaching for a landing.
Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly remarked that it is unlikely anyone survived the tragedy. U.S. Figure Skating expressed its sorrow, stating, “We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches are among those on board. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.” They emphasized the close-knit nature of the figure skating community, stating, “Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together.”
The Skating Club of Boston, a historic institution in figure skating, has produced numerous champions, including Dick Button and Albright, along with Olympic medalists like Nancy Kerrigan and Paul Wylie. As the club prepares to host the World Championships this spring, flags for both U.S. Figure Skating and Massachusetts were lowered to half-staff outside their rink, where flowers were being left by visitors who shared in the collective mourning.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Kerrigan, also a member of the club, stated, “We’ve been through tragedies before — as Americans, as people — and we are strong.” She highlighted the significance of community support during such difficult times. Inside the club, young skaters continued to practice in silence, indicating their resilience as they dealt with the heavy emotions surrounding the loss.
In memory of the victims, a table set up within the club that once held messages of encouragement for skaters competing in Wichita was transformed into a tribute featuring framed photographs of Lane and Han, along with their coaches, surrounded by lit candles and white roses. Reigning world champion Ilia Malinin shared his heartbreak over the incident, declaring the figure skating community to be like family and expressing that the loss is indescribable.
Lane, at just 16 years old, had recently gained popularity on social media and had only recently celebrated his qualification for the national development camp. His father described Spencer as having an infectious personality and being adored by everyone in his home club.
The Naumov and Shishkova couple relocated to the U.S. where they became coaches, initially at the International Skating Center of Connecticut before joining the Boston club in 2017. They previously represented their country in pairs during two Olympic Games.
Albright recalled the eerie similarities to the 1961 incident that took the lives of the entire U.S. delegation traveling to the World Championships in Prague. Albright lost her coach and several friends in that crash, and the 1961 tragedy led to the cancellation of the championships as a mark of respect.
Current club officials aim to ensure that the upcoming World Championships in Boston from March 25-30 maintain the standard expected of such significant events, stating the necessity of continuing their work to honor the memory of the lost members of the skating community.
Meanwhile, the European Championships are ongoing in Tallinn, Estonia, where participants paused for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the crash. International Skating Union President Jae Youl Kim expressed sorrow on behalf of the global figure skating community, sending condolences to families affected by this catastrophic event.
