Who are the DC Plane Crash Victims? American Figure Skaters Among Presumed Dead
Passengers and Crew
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River. The flight was heading from Washington, D.C. to Boston when it went down.
Figure Skaters Among the Victims
Among the passengers were several American figure skaters, their mothers, and Russian coaches. Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, both teenagers, were among those killed, along with their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane, and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
The Coaches
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were experienced coaches who had won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships in Chiba, Japan. They competed twice in the Olympics and were listed as coaches by the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the U.S.
The Skating Club of Boston
The Skating Club of Boston lists Jinna Han and Spencer Lane as skaters who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Jinna, about 15 years old, and Spencer, about 16, were traveling with their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane, and their coaches.
U.S. Figure Skating Community Mourns
U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement that several skaters, coaches, and their family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp that followed the championships. The organization is devastated by the tragedy and holds the victims’ families closely in their hearts.
Air Tragedy in the U.S. Figure Skating Community
This is not the first air tragedy in the U.S. figure skating community. The 18-member U.S. team that was set to compete in the world championships at Prague died when Sabena Flight 548 crashed on February 15, 1961, in Berg-Kampenhout, about 45 minutes outside of Brussels. Also killed were six U.S. coaches and four skating officials, along with some family members.
Identification of Passengers
American Airlines has set up a hotline as well as centers in Washington and Wichita for people searching for information about family members who may have been aboard the flight. The hotline can be reached at 1-800 679 8215.
Conclusion
The DC plane crash victims include several American figure skaters, their mothers, and Russian coaches. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the figure skating community, and the victims’ families are being held closely in the hearts of those affected.
FAQs
Q: Who were the figure skaters killed in the crash?
A: Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, both teenagers, were among those killed, along with their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane, and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
Q: Who were the coaches killed in the crash?
A: Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were experienced coaches who had won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships in Chiba, Japan.
Q: What is the reaction of the figure skating community?
A: U.S. Figure Skating is devastated by the tragedy and holds the victims’ families closely in their hearts. The International Skating Union has also sent a statement saying it is deeply shocked and heartbroken.
