Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives of U.S. Figure Skating Community, Including Coaches and Young Athletes

An American Airlines regional jet collided with a U.S. Army helicopter, crashing into the Potomac River on January 29, resulting in the tragic loss of 64 lives, including six members associated with the Boston Skating Club. Notable fatalities included coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with young athletes Spencer Lane and Jinna Han and their mothers. Skating legend Nancy Kerrigan expressed her sorrow at a memorial, reflecting on the close-knit nature of the skating community. The crash evokes memories of the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 tragedy, highlighting the profound impact such losses have on the sport.