Former Russian world champion determine skaters have been on board the doomed American Airways airplane that crashed right into a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington.
Evgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, received the World Determine Skating Championship in pairs in 1994.
The married couple have been travelling again to DC on Flight 5342 after attending the US Determine Skating Championships in Kansas.
Their son Maxim Naumov, 23, a distinguished Workforce USA skater, was not on the airplane, with a crew mate claiming that he left Wichita on Monday.
US determine skating has confirmed that a number of skaters, coaches and their members of the family have been on board the flight, and had been returning residence from the Nationwide Growth Camp which is held along side the nationwide championships.
‘We’re devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and maintain the victims’ households intently in our hearts. We are going to proceed to observe the scenario and can launch extra data because it turns into obtainable,’ the game governing physique stated in an announcement.
American determine skater John Maravilla, as reported by RIA Novosti, stated: ‘I do not need to identify names, however there have been round 14 determine skaters on the airplane, not counting their dad and mom and several other coaches.’
The regional passenger jet and the US Military helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision because the airplane approached Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on Wednesday night time, officers stated.
American Airways confirmed there have been 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
Russian determine skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov are reported to have been on board the American Airways airplane that crashed right into a Black Hawk helicopter
The couple’s 23-year-old son Maxim, a determine skater for Workforce USA, took half within the US Championships in Wichita in current days
Surveillance footage taken from contained in the airport additionally captured the second the 2 collided in midair
Emergency response items assess airplane wreckage within the Potomac River
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been born in Leningrad and competed in pairs skating for the nationwide groups of the us and Russia, successful the World Championship in 1994.
They moved to the US in 1998 and labored as coaches.
The couple have been reported to have been getting back from the competitors and travelling with a gaggle of younger skaters.
Maxim, who positioned fourth on the competitors in Wichita, reportedly left Kansas with US determine skater Anton Spiridonov on Monday.
‘I wasn’t on the flight. Individuals I knew, I believe, have been,’ Spiridonov stated. ‘Maxim Naumov was not on board – he left Wichita on Monday.
‘He was on the airport with me, going by safety on the identical time.’
Their son Maxim Naumov, 23, a distinguished Workforce USA skater, was not on the airplane, regardless of having competed on the US Determine Skating Championships in Kansas. He’s pictured together with his dad and mom – who’re additionally his coaches
Shishkova and Naumov, who have been married, received the world championship in pairs determine skating in 1994
Maxim Naumov performs throughout the males’s free skate competitors on the U.S. determine skating championships Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas
Nevertheless, Maxim’s dad and mom have been on board, Spiridonov stated.
Skating followers have posted heartfelt tributes to on Maxim’s social media accounts immediately.
Maxim, whose dad and mom have been his coaches, as soon as stated: ‘I need to thank my dad and mom and my sister who opened the door [to figure skating].’
Russia’s Mash information outlet revealed a listing of 13 skaters, lots of them the youngsters of Russian emigres to america, who it stated have been believed to have been on the airplane.
Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the Soviet Union, was additionally reported to have been on board, TASS stated. She was a coach on the Washington determine skating membership, in keeping with its web site.
There have been no at the moment energetic Russian determine skaters on board Flight 5342, Olga Yermolina, spokeswoman for the nation’s determine skating federation, instructed Zvezda.
Andrew Torgashev, Ilia Malinin, Camden Pulkinen, and Maxim Naumov pose after the medal ceremony for the Championship Males throughout the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Determine Skating Championships at Intrust Financial institution Enviornment on January 26, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas
Russian pairs determine skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova carry out throughout the Pairs Brief Program throughout the World Determine Skating Championships in Edmonton, Canada in 1996
Russian determine skaters and coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been aboard the American Airways airplane that crashed in DC. They’re pictured with their son Maxim
‘We’ve got to attend for the official lists,’ Yermolina stated.
‘These are folks with different passports who as soon as carried out or skilled with the us or Russian nationwide crew, however now they’re US residents.’
The airplane is claimed to have cut up in two and is in round seven ft of water, whereas the helicopter is the wrong way up and is unstable, in keeping with the outlet.
Photos captured on the scene present emergency officers on boats round what seems to be a part of the fuselage and a wing jutting out of the river.
The Federal Aviation Authority stated that the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter whereas on method to Runway 33.
Protection officers have confirmed that the Black Hawk was an Military chopper carrying three troopers on a coaching flight.
