Young members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team and a renowned Russian figure skating couple were tragically among the passengers on a domestic flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C.
In a devastating incident late Wednesday night, an American Airlines regional jet en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
First responders at Reagan National Airport are reportedly transitioning from a search and rescue operation to a recovery effort, according to CNN.
While official confirmation is pending, law enforcement sources have revealed the grim nature of the unfolding situation.
“I spoke with a law enforcement source just a few minutes ago. He told me that there’s a really somber mood, even at the rescue scene,” CNN reporter Gabe Cohen said.
“It feels — certainly not officially — but that we’re sort of moving from that ‘search-and-rescue operation’ into a recovery effort. They have pulled several bodies out. There are fatalities confirmed at the scene. And now we’re just waiting for answers.”
“While officials wouldn’t give us any information on the recovery, potential survivors, or the fatality count, you could tell it was not good and that, barring a miracle, they were looking at potentially the worst disaster here in Washington in decades.”
A police official on the scene told CBS News that three debris fields were spotted in the water and at least 18 bodies had been recovered as of 10:30 p.m. CT.
The official confirmed that no survivors had been found, contradicting earlier reports from the media that four survivors were discovered.
Among the 60 passengers aboard the flight were several members of the U.S. Figure Skating community, including coaches and young skaters who had recently participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, The Wichita Eagle reported.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” a statement by U.S. Figure Skating said.
A source told Reuters that as many as 15 people on the flight may have been involved in figure skating.
WATCH:
Fox News’ @markpmeredith reports “the US figure skating community says they had multiple members onboard the aircraft coming back from Wichita – athletes, coaches, families”
This follows crash of U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 in Potomac… pic.twitter.com/ry1j3J6Kvy
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) January 30, 2025
Renowned figure skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were also among the passengers.
The couple, who clinched the pairs gold medal at the 1994 World Championships, had transitioned into coaching after their competitive careers and were based in the United States.
Their 23-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, is a U.S. citizen and competes internationally for the United States, having secured the U.S. national junior champion title in 2020. There are also fears that he may be among the passengers.
The Wichita Eagle reported:
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Some young athletes stayed in the city through Jan. 28 for the advanced training program.
Team USA pair skater Luke Wang told McClatchy News that skaters who qualified for the elite division stayed an extra day, after which Wang said several boarded American Airlines Flight 5342.
Wang and others were notified by U.S. Figure Skating via text after the crash.
“Praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,” Wang wrote on X on Wednesday night. “among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.”
Another skater, Team USA ice dancer, Ethan Peal tweeted, “I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community,” in response to the news.
Air traffic controllers were in communication with the helicopter involved, asking if it had the American Airlines passenger jet in sight.
The critical exchange was captured in audio obtained by CNN from LiveATC.net, which provides live air traffic control broadcasts.
In the recording, an air traffic controller can be heard asking the helicopter pilot, “PAT 25, do you have the CRJ in sight?”
The controller then instructs, “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.” However, no response is heard from the helicopter crew.
President Trump posted about the deadly collision to Truth Social just after midnight on Wednesday.
Trump wrote, “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
The Washington Field Office of the FBI told NBC News there was no indication of terrorism in the collision.
NBC News posted: “There is no indication of any criminality or terrorism in tonight’s midair crash near Reagan National Airport, a senior FBI official with the Washington field office says.”
The post TRAGIC: U.S. Figure Skating Team Joined by Renowned Russian Figure Skating Couple Among Passengers on Ill-Fated Flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.