A tragic incident unfolded near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.
C., as an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter, resulting in the presumed deaths of all onboard.
Among the victims were at least 14 members of the U.S. Figure Skating team, marking a devastating loss for the skating community.
According to Breitbart, Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston, confirmed to WCVB-TV that six members of his organization were on the ill-fated flight. Additionally, eight other members of the U.S. team were also present. Zeghibe expressed the profound impact of the tragedy, stating, "Skating is a very close and tight-knit community. These kids and their parents they are here at our skating facility in Norwood six, sometimes seven days a week. It is a close, tight bond, and I think for all of us, we have lost family."
Among those on the flight were skater Spencer Lane, his mother Molly, skater Jinna Han and her mother Jin, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The collision occurred at 9 p.m. on Wednesday when the American Airlines plane, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was struck by an Army helicopter during a training exercise. The resulting explosion left no apparent survivors.
Despite clear weather conditions and ten miles of visibility, the circumstances leading to the helicopter's failure to detect the approaching jet remain unclear. This incident raises questions about aviation safety protocols and the measures in place to prevent such catastrophic events. As the investigation unfolds, the skating community and families affected by this tragedy are left to grapple with the profound loss of their loved ones.
Login