The U.S. Figure Skating Association (USFSA) confirmed on January 30 that several members of the figure skating community were on board American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 near Washington, D.C.
The USFSA statement explained that these individuals—athletes, coaches, and family members—were returning from the National Development Camp, held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
The championships, held from January 20 to 26, determined new champions in senior women’s, men’s pairs, and ice dance categories. The event also featured novice and junior level competitions and development camps, serving as a pathway for athletes to join the national team for world and Olympic competitions.
Flight 5342 carried 60 passengers and four crew members; the USFSA didn’t specify how many passengers were from the skating community. News agency TASS, citing an anonymous source, reported that Russian-born 1994 pairs skating world champions were among the passengers.
A source reportedly told TASS that coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board. The pair, believed to have married in 1995, competed for Russia and now coach in the United States.
Their son, Maxim, a national competitor, was also mentioned. The Daily Mail reported a teammate stated Maxim was not on the flight, having departed Wichita earlier in the week. Maxim’s performance at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Seoul, Korea, in late February is yet to be determined.