World champion figure skaters from 1994, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among those who lost their lives when a plane crashed. The accident happened after they had attended the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Tragic Loss for U.S. Figure Skating Community
- An American Airlines flight crashed on Wednesday, January 29, after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of The Skating Club of Boston. Fourteen U.S. figure skaters were on board.
- Zeghibe confirmed during a press conference on Thursday, January 30, that six members of The Skating Club of Boston, including two teenage skaters and their mothers, were passengers on the plane.
- The accident also claimed the lives of Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, world champions from 1994.
Plane Crash Over Potomac River
Authorities have identified multiple skaters who were among the victims of the American Airlines flight that crashed into a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C.
On the evening of January 29, at approximately 9 p.m. local time, American Airlines flight 5342 collided midair with a military aircraft. The crash took place over the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to an initial statement released by the FAA.
The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members. American Airlines later confirmed that there were no survivors. On January 30, U.S. Figure Skating verified that several of its members were on the aircraft when the tragedy occurred.
Victims from The Skating Club of Boston
Among the 14 U.S. figure skaters on board, six were members of The Skating Club of Boston. Their identities were revealed during a press conference led by Doug Zeghibe on January 30.
The victims included two teenagers, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, Molly Lane and Jin Han, and two coaches—Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. Shishkova and Naumov, originally from Russia, had once been world champions in figure skating.
A Community in Mourning
Photographs of the crash victims were displayed at The Skating Club of Boston’s rink on January 30, 2025, in Norwood, Massachusetts.
Spencer Lane shared a final image before takeoff, posting a photo of the plane’s wing on Instagram Stories.
Speaking at the press conference, Zeghibe fought back tears as he described the close bonds within the skating community. “They are here at our facility in Norwood six or even seven days a week,” he said. “We are like family, and this loss is unbearable.”
More Skaters Among the Victims
According to Reuters, 59-year-old Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet Union figure skater, was also a passenger on the flight. The Washington Figure Skating Club listed Volyanskaya as a coach on its website.
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were 52 and 55 years old respectively, were also on board, as confirmed by Reuters and The Guardian. Both Russian news agencies TASS and RIA also reported their deaths.
The couple had lived in the United States since at least 1998 after retiring from competition. After stepping away from their own careers, they dedicated themselves to training young skaters.
Emergency Response Efforts
Emergency teams, including Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS, as well as local police, arrived at the crash site near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport. They worked tirelessly to assess the wreckage in the Potomac River.
Aerial images showed search and rescue efforts taking place at the scene.
Horrifying footage captured the moment American Airlines Flight 5342 and the Black Hawk helicopter collided above the river.
U.S. Figure Skating Releases a Statement
On the morning of Thursday, January 30, U.S. Figure Skating issued an official statement to PEOPLE:
“U.S. Figure Skating confirms that several of our athletes, coaches, and their families were tragically aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which was involved in a collision with a military helicopter over Washington, D.C.”
The statement further explained that those on board were returning from the National Development Camp, which had been organized alongside the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
A Heartfelt Farewell.
The organization expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
“We are devastated beyond words. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Final Moments Before the Crash
The 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships had taken place in Wichita, Kansas, from January 20 to January 26, according to U.S. Figure Skating’s official website.
Many of the skaters had been traveling home after the event when the tragic accident occurred.
The U.S. figure skating community, as well as the international skating world, is mourning the loss of these talented individuals, who left an unforgettable mark on the sport.
