A deadly midair collision occurred Wednesday night near Washington, D.C., when American Airlines Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m.
The passenger jet was carrying 64 people, including 14 members of the U.S. figure skating community returning from a National Development Camp. Russian world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also reportedly on board.
Rescue teams have recovered 28 bodies from the river so far. D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly stated, “We don’t believe there are any survivors.”
On X, ISU Figure Skating expressed their sorrow, saying, “We are heartbroken to learn that Figure Skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family-and we stand together. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.”
The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.
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