Tragic Crash of American Eagle Flight 5342: Figure Skaters and Coaches Among Victims

Preview
Preview
Preview
Preview
An American Airlines regional jet, specifically American Eagle Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 29, 2025. The plane subsequently crashed into the Potomac River.
The flight was returning from a National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Among the passengers were several members of the U.S. Figure Skating team, including athletes, coaches, and their family members. Notably, the plane also carried Russian figure skaters and coaches, including Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were returning from the same camp. Shishkova and Naumov, a married couple, were former world champions and had been living and coaching in the United States since 1998.
The collision occurred in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over three miles south of the White House and the Capitol. An air traffic controller had asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight less than 30 seconds before the crash. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later, but the two aircraft collided shortly after.
Preview
Preview
The crash resulted in multiple fatalities, with rescue operations ongoing in the Potomac River. The exact number of casualties was difficult to ascertain due to the plane going down into the river. Emergency response units, including 300 first responders, were deployed to the scene, with inflatable rescue boats and searchlights used to aid in the search and recovery efforts.
The International Skating Union expressed its shock and offered condolences to the affected families, emphasizing that figure skating is more than a sport—it's a close-knit family. The U.S. Figure Skating organization also confirmed the presence of its members on the flight and expressed its deep sorrow over the tragedy.