Jan 31 (V7N) - The U.S. figure skating community is in mourning following a tragic plane crash near Reagan Washington National Airport. An American Airlines regional passenger plane, carrying 64 passengers and crew, collided mid-air with a U.S. Army helicopter while en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington. Officials confirmed that there were no survivors, leaving the nation in shock.

The passengers included several young figure skaters, their parents, and coaches who were returning from the National Development Camp held alongside the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. U.S. Figure Skating expressed profound grief, stating, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts."

Among those lost were six individuals from the Skating Club of Boston, including athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane, and renowned coaches Vadim Naumov and Yevgenia "Genia" Shishkova. Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, had been training young skaters in the U.S. since 1998 and were former world champions in pairs figure skating.

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland called the athletes "Olympic hopefuls who embodied perseverance, resilience, and hope." The exact number of skaters and family members on board remains uncertain, but reports suggest at least 14 were involved in the sport.

The Skating Club of Boston described the loss as devastating, emphasizing the close bonds formed within the figure skating community. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together," the club stated.

This tragic accident leaves an irreplaceable void in the U.S. skating world. The young athletes represented the future of Team USA, and their untimely deaths have sent shockwaves through the sports community.

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