It was reported that former and current figure skaters were on board a small passenger aircraft that crashed on the 29th (local time) at Ronald Reagan Airport, a domestic airport in Washington, D.C.
According to foreign media such as Reuters, Russian state media, and The New York Times (NYT), the aircraft involved in the accident reportedly had onboard Evgenia Shushkova and Vadim Naumov, a couple who were champions at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1994. The couple has been residing in the United States and working as figure skating coaches.
Russian state media mentioned that their son, Maxim Naumov, was also believed to be on the same aircraft. Maxim had participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita, Kansas, from the 20th to the 26th. The couple appears to have been returning from watching their son's competition when the accident occurred.
According to the U.S. Figure Skating Association, it is reported that other athletes, coaches, and their families associated with the association were also on the aircraft that had the accident that day. They were returning to Washington, D.C., after participating in a camp for youth skaters that was held alongside the figure skating championships in Kansas.
Alex Shofler, the spokesperson for the U.S. Figure Skating Association, said, "We are devastated and shocked by this unspeakable tragedy."
Meanwhile, a small passenger aircraft crashed on the 29th at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, D.C., after colliding with a military helicopter in midair. The aircraft that crashed into the nearby Potomac River had 60 passengers and 4 crew members onboard. The status of these individuals is yet to be confirmed.