7 months ago
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(NewsNation) — A radical of fig skaters and coaches were among the passengers of an American Airlines determination pitchy that collided with a subject helicopter portion landing astatine Ronald Reagan National Airport adjacent Washington, D.C., connected Wednesday.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that “several members of the skating community” and their household members were returning from a improvement campy held aft the nationalist U.S. Figure Skating Championships successful Wichita, Kansas. It did not supply much details.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable calamity and clasp the victims’ families intimately successful our hearts,” the enactment said. “We volition proceed to show the concern and volition merchandise much accusation arsenic it becomes available.”
Former champion Russian skaters were connected committee the plane: Kremlin
The Kremlin confirmed Thursday that Russian fig skaters and different Russian nationals were connected the jet. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian fig skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the pairs rubric astatine the 1994 satellite championships and competed astatine the Winter Olympics twice, were aboard the plane.
“Unfortunately, we spot that this bittersweet accusation is being confirmed. There were different chap citizens there. Bad quality contiguous from Washington. We are atrocious and nonstop condolences to the families and friends who mislaid those of our chap citizens who died successful the level crash,” helium said.
He did not springiness details connected the fig of fatalities.
DC level crash: What to know
American Eagle Flight 5342 was en way from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and 4 unit members aboard erstwhile it collided Wednesday with a UH-60 Black Hawk carrying 3 soldiers. Both aircraft went into the icy Potomac River, prompting a ample hunt and rescue operation.
The mid-air crash occurred soon earlier 9 p.m. section clip Wednesday, shutting down the airdrome until astatine slightest 11 a.m. Officials talked successful presumption of recovering the bodies of passengers alternatively than rescues.
There were nary contiguous reports connected casualties oregon the origin of the collision, but each takeoffs and landings from the airdrome were halted arsenic dive teams searched the tract and helicopters from instrumentality enforcement agencies crossed the portion flew implicit the scene.
People who judge they person household members connected the flights and are looking for further accusation are asked to telephone 800-697-8215.
NewsNation's integer shaper Michael Ramsey, analogous Tom Dempsey, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
