Athlete on doomed American Airlines flight shared photo of take-off
A rising star snapped a photo of the plane’s right wing moments before takeoff as the sports world reckons with a terrible tragedy.
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Russian ice skating world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov and “several members” of the US figure skating team were on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a military helicopter on Wednesday night (Thursday AEDT).
A passenger plane with 64 people on board crashed into near-freezing water after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter in Washington, DC.
Spencer Lane, a rising star in the skating community, snapped a photo of the plane’s right wing moments before takeoff.
The post read, “ICT [to] DCA,” showing the airport codes for Wichita Eisenhower and Reagan National.
There is a massive search and rescue operation underway, but conditions have been described as “dangerous” and recovery efforts will likely take several days.
The US Army Blackhawk (H-60) helicopter, with three people on board, and Flight 5342 went down around the Potomac River.
There are reports 18 bodies have been pulled from the river and no survivors have yet been found.
Webcam from the Washington DC’s Kennedy Center appeared to capture a mid-air explosion after a helicopter and a plane collided.
The regional American Airlines flight had been coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when tragedy struck.
Russian state media has reported that 52-year-old Shishkova and 55-year-old Naumov, who were married and won the pairs figure skating world title in 1994, were on board the plane.
They had relocated to the United States in 1998 to move into coaching and it’s feared their son Maxim – who competed for Team USA in singles – was also on board.
Several coaches and parents of figure skaters were also on the flight from Wichita to Reagan National Airport, USA Figure Skating has confirmed.
The US Figure Skating Championships was held in Wichita, Kansas from January 20-26 at the INTRUST Bank Arena.
“US Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.,” the organisation told the New York Post.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
The skaters were part of the National Development Team and had competed at the US Figure Skating Championships.
Some of the young athletes then stayed in the city until January 28 for an advanced training program.
Decorated Team US pairs skater Luke Wang, 20, was among those posting on social media after the tragic event.
“Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to DC,” he wrote on X.
“Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.”
Wang and others had been notified by US Figure Skating via text message following the crash.
Team USA ice dancer Ethan Peal also tweeted: “I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community.”
The US association had not immediately provided details on who or how many athletes or officials had been on board the flight.
– with the New York Post
Originally published as Athlete on doomed American Airlines flight shared photo of take-off
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