64 people were on board the commercial jet that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington on Wednesday night after colliding in midair with an Army helicopter, including Russian and American figure skaters. The skaters were returning from a training camp for elite juvenile, intermediate, and novice skaters that takes place after the national figure skating championships, which were held in Wichita, Kansas, over the weekend, according to U.S. Figure Skating, the American governing organization for the sport. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri S. Peskov, the jet included Russian figure skaters and other Russian residents. In a statement, U.S. Figure Skating's communications director, Alex Schauffler, said, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families close in our hearts." There were no known fatalities as of early Thursday morning.
According to American couples figure skater Jon Maravilla, there were "about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and coaches," as reported by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Mr. Maravilla remarked, "What a tragedy," but he declined to reveal their identities. A request for comment from U.S. Figure Skating was not immediately answered, and the organization did not confirm the number of its members on board. Three former Russian figure skaters were also on the aircraft, according to Russian state news outlets.
Every year, the U.S. national championships take place in various places across the nation. Skaters are required to participate in qualifying rounds in regional competitions prior to the tournament. Colorado Springs is home to U.S. Figure Skating, which was established in 1921. It has about 900 member groups and includes both professional and amateur skating clubs. The International Skating Union released a statement saying, "We are devastated to hear that figure skaters, as well as their families, friends, and coaches, are believed to be among those on board." "Everyone impacted by this tragedy is in our prayers. We stand together because figure skating is more than just a sport; it's a close-knit ...See More
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