‘Never be forgotten’: Figure skating community responds to Wichita plane crashing in DC
Just days after figure skaters, family and coaches from across the United States came together in Wichita, a tragic plane crash has left the U.S. Figure Skating community reeling.
Several people involved in figure skating, including young athletes, parents and coaches, were among the 67 people killed after a flight from Wichita hit a military Black Hawk helicopter plunged into the Potomac River on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Athletes from all over the United States were in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26 for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and a select few juvenile skaters stayed later to attend the National Development Team, a training program for the young athletes. Several of those skaters were on board the Wichita to Washington flight.
“To go from such a high to such a low has been just so devastating,” Jolene Taylor, the president of the Wichita Figure Skating Club, told The Eagle on Thursday.
The Wichita Figure Skating Club was heavily involved in putting on the championships last weekend.
“We all worked really hard with Visit Wichita to have a successful figure skating championships. We worked really hard, we feel like we did a good job, we were getting positive feedback,” Taylor said. “Everybody felt good about the week, and then this happened, and all of that feeling went away.”
The figure skating community has reacted quickly to the news.
“It’s a very close [and] tight knit community, it’s a small world,” Taylor said. “So news does travel fast within the skating community, and this is just tragic news and something that will never be forgotten.”
The Boston Figure Skating Club confirmed that six of their figure skating community members were among those who lost their lives in the crash.
Athlete Jinna Han and her mother Jin, athlete Spencer Lane and his mother Christine, and Russian-born figure skating coaches, and former world champs Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.
“Our sport and club have suffered a horrible loss with these tragedy,” the club’s CEO and executive director, Doug Zeghibe, said in a statement. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 or 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family.”
Also reported to be aboard was Inna Volyanskaya, a skating coach and former skating champion, in Ashburn, Virginia.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating shared in a social media statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
National figure skating response
Olympians, national and world champions, as well as figure skating fans took to social media after the plane crash to share their condolences. Among those were skaters who won titles this past weekend in Wichita.
“My heart is heavy for the lives lost of flight AA5342 and for the families and friends who loved them,” posted Olympic gold medalist Madison Chock, who with her husband, Evan Bates, won gold in the ice dance portion of last week’s competition. “Our skating community has lost bright young athletes, each full of promise and potential. They will be remembered and cherished for the joy they brought to the ice and the lives they touched. Sending my love and strength to those who’ve been lost and those who’ve lost their loved ones.”
Skater Amber Glenn won her second women’s U.S. national title in Wichita last weekend.
“I’m in complete shock. I’m sorry I don’t even know what to say,” Glenn said on her Instagram story Thursday.
Ilia Malinin is the favorite to win a gold metal in the 2026 Olympics. He won his third straight men’s U.S. national title in Wichita last weekend.
“I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters in this devastating accident,” Malinin shared on Instagram. “The figure skating community is a family, and this loss is beyond words. My thoughts are with their families, friends, and everyone affected. We will never forget them.”
Pair skaters Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov won gold this year after taking home silver in 2024’s championships. They both shared statements on social media.
“All my thoughts are with all the people and families affected by the tragedy in Washington D.C.,” Efimova shared on her Instagram story. “There are no words that could ease the pain from the horrors of last night. The least we can do is respect each others boundaries and stay away from gossip and speculation.”
“Sending my condolences to all the families involved in this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you,” Mitrofanov said on his Instagram story. “Stay strong and know you are loved.”
The European Figure Skating Championships had a moment of silence Thursday to support U.S. Figure Skating.
