In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a tragic collision involving an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter has left the figure skating community reeling. The incident, which took place Wednesday night near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, involved several prominent U.S. figure skaters, coaches, and their families. Among those aboard were world champion coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, whose contributions to the sport have earned them legendary status.

The ill-fated flight, American Airlines Flight 5342, had been traveling from Wichita, Kansas, after a week of intense competition at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The camp, which spanned from January 20 to January 26, had brought together some of the best emerging talents in the sport, including Spencer Lane, a rising star in figure skating who had shared a photo of the plane’s right wing just moments before takeoff.

Lane’s Instagram post, which read “ICT [to] DCA,” indicating the flight path between Wichita Eisenhower and Reagan National, captured the excitement before what would turn out to be a devastating journey. The flight, one of only a handful that makes the direct trip each day, left at 5:18 p.m. local time, marking the start of an unfortunate and tragic event.

Among the passengers were not only skaters, but also several coaches and parents of these talented athletes. Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, both 1994 World Champion gold medalists in pair skating, were onboard, along with their son, Maxim Naumov, a promising young figure skater who had placed fourth in the Men’s Free Skate Championship. The couple had expressed immense pride in their son’s performance, showcasing the deep family bond that runs through the figure skating world.

Though it is unclear if Maxim was with his parents on the flight, the skaters and coaches aboard were undoubtedly a tight-knit group, with US Figure Skating releasing a statement expressing their devastation over the tragedy. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” they said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

The International Skating Union, the global governing body for figure skating, also shared its grief, calling the loss “unspeakable.” Their heartfelt message expressed solidarity with the entire skating community, acknowledging that “figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family.”

News of the crash spread quickly throughout the figure skating world, with figures like Team USA pair skater Luke Wang offering their prayers for those aboard the flight. “Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to DC. Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking,” Wang wrote on social media.

As details began to emerge, it was confirmed that the aircraft, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, collided with a Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter just before 9 p.m. as it was approaching the runway at Reagan National. Horrifying footage captured the explosion in midair, creating a massive fireball that lit up the dark sky. Debris from the wreckage fell into the Potomac River, and at least 19 bodies have been recovered so far.

The loss of life is staggering, with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the flight, while the military helicopter carried three soldiers. As the figure skating world mourns, prayers are being offered for those affected by this senseless tragedy, and hopes remain that the memory of those lost will inspire greater unity in the sport.

As the investigation continues, the skating community and the country stand together in grief, remembering those who were taken too soon in this catastrophic event.