Ice skater Jon Maravilla forced off flight that crashed in Washington
The International Skating Union president has told of his devastation at the deaths of skaters in the US plane crash, as it emerged one young athlete was forced to miss the flight.
The president of the International Skating Union has told of his devastation of the deaths of skaters in the Washington DC plane crash as it emerged that the life of one young skater was saved because his accompanying dog was too big.
Jon Maravilla was booked on American Airlines Flight 5342, which plunged into the Potomac River in Washington DC after a midair collision with a Black Hawk helicopter, but he was turned away at Wichita airport because his dog was too big for the carrier to take on board.
Mr Maravilla told Russian news agency Sputnik that when he wasn’t allowed to bring his dog – a surprise because he had brought the dog with him on the initial leg – he decided to rent a car for the 14-hour journey home instead.
A profile on US Figure Skating says that Mr Maravilla, 19, has a white Bichon Frise named Yuki.
Mr Maravilla, a US junior bronze medallist in pairs, told Sputnik that there were at least 14 skaters who on board the flight, as well as parents and friends.
The skaters had been returning from a US national development camp and competition.
“I don’t want to name names, but there were about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents, and a few coaches. Such a tragedy,” Mr Maravilla said.
He had earlier posted on social media his frustration about being turned away.
“Not allowed past gate to board flight. Get me tf out of Kansas please.”
He then followed up after getting a car writing: “14-hour journey begins.”
The disaster for the sport echoes a fatal plane crash in 1961 which claimed the lives of the US figure skating team in Belgium as they were flying to the World Championships.
Russian Tass Agency reported former world champion Russian pairs skaters Yevgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, who live in the US, were killed in the disaster.
The skaters were coaches at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood. A club official said as well as the coaches, two teenage skaters, Spencer Lane and Jinna Ha and two parents, are believed to have been passengers on the flight.
The 24-year-old son of the Russian coaches, Maxim, who had competed in Wichita, had caught a different flight home.
Jae Youl Kim, the ISU president and an International Olympic Committee member, was in Lausanne to hear speeches by the seven presidential candidates vying to replace Thomas Bach when he was informed of the crash.
Mr Kim gave a media statement, but had to take a moment away from the room after finding the news too emotional.
He said he was “heartbroken” at the news, acknowledging that there had been skaters — and their family, friends and coaches — on the tragic flight.
He offered his full support “at this incredibly difficult time’ and added: “Our thoughts go out to everyone as they wait for news about their loved ones.”
US Figure Skating confirmed in a statement that skaters were aboard the plane which collided with a Black Hawk helicopter.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the US Figure Skating statement said.
“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.”