U.S. Figure Skating confirms that athletes, coaches, and family members were on American Airlines Flight 5342 that crashed in D.C.

[Cherub721]

Yes, by his wife in this ABC News article: https://abcnews.go.com/US/devastate...oard-flight-collided-black/story?id=118257532

Is Natalya Gudin the same same Natalya Gudina who represented Israel in ice dance with Alexei Beletski?

This is so tragic, my heart goes out to all the families.

 

[tony]

wrong thread x2

 

[Sylvia]

(fixed)

 

[Alilou]

NM

 

[tony]

wrong thread

 

[Debbie S]

Is Natalya Gudin the same same Natalya Gudina who represented Israel in ice dance with Alexei Beletski?

Yes. They trained at UD with Linichuk and then stayed on to coach after they retired. Alex returned to Ukraine a few years later when his visa ran out.

 

[peibeck]

The Guardian, I believe, posted audio of air traffic control advising the Blackhawk about the incoming plane and asking them to make sure they got visual contact on it only moments before the impact.

On MSNBC this morning a former FAA official said it appeared neither plane or copter took evasive maneuvers, so apparently neither vehicle realized how close they were too each other.

 

[sk8pics]

Has it been confirmed that Sasha Kirsanov was on the flight?

Yes, by his wife in this ABC News article: https://abcnews.go.com/US/devastate...oard-flight-collided-black/story?id=118257532

My friend told me he heard at 2 am. This is just so, so sad.... I know everyone here realizes this, but every time I read more about it and especially relating to local connections, it's just overwhelming. Sasha was only an acquaintance of mine, but wow...

 

[Sylvia]

Associated Press article by Dave Skretta and Jimmy Golen (Jan. 30):

14 from figure skating community killed in plane crash, six of them from Boston club

Two young figure skaters, two of their parents and two highly-regarded Russian figure skating coaches were among those killed after an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.

apnews.com

The U.S. Figure Skating and Massachusetts flags were lowered to half-staff outside the century-old club’s newly built rink on Thursday. Flower deliveries arrived at the reception desk, while visitors were greeted with long and tearful hugs.
Among the visitors on Thursday were Albright and Kerrigan, a two-time Olympic medalist and Skating Club of Boston alum. On the club’s two practice rinks, young skaters practiced their routines in silence.
“Skaters are resilient, and they want to skate,” Zeghibe said. “I think also they come to the club and will come to the club as an opportunity to come together and to grieve together.”
A table that had been filled with messages wishing all of the skaters luck in Wichita was replaced midday by one with framed pictures of Lane and Han in action. Behind them, six white roses stood in six simple vases.

Spencer Lane is a sectionals champion who had become popular among the skating community on social media, where he has thousands of TikTok followers. On Wednesday, he posted a video showing him doing a triple toe loop to wrap up the development camp.
“I am so happy to have qualified for national development camp,” Lane said in an Instagram post Wednesday. “It has been my goal almost ever since I became aware that it was a thing. I learned so much new information that I can apply to my everyday life, and met so many amazing people.”
He later posted a photo of him aboard the plane just before it departed from Wichita.
Lane’s father said Spencer had an infectious personality.
“In his home club in Boston, he was just loved by everyone from the adults running the club to the smallest skaters to the people that are competing for a shot at the Olympics,” Douglas Lane told WPRI in Providence, Rhode Island. “They just adored him.”

World champion Russian skaters on American Airlines jet built a new life as coaches in the US (another AP article):

World champion Russian skaters on American Airlines jet built a new life as coaches in the US

The two Russian figure skating coaches killed in the American Airlines crash were two-time Olympians and former world champions in the pairs event.

apnews.com

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov won a world championship title together in pairs skating in 1994 and narrowly missed out on Olympic medals that year at the Lillehammer Games before moving to the U.S. and coaching generations of young skaters in New England.
After their son Maxim Naumov skated at the national championships, the 52-year-old Shishkova and her 55-year-old husband stayed in Wichita for a development camp for some of the most promising young skaters in the country.

Lyudmila Velikova, the former coach of Shishkova and Naumov, told Russian state news agency Tass she had been in touch with Shishkova and Naumov regularly and that they had spoken shortly before last week’s event in Kansas.
“Everything was going well for them. They traveled to the main competitions in America and they had very good, worthy students,” Velikova said. “Many people wanted to work with them.”

 

[MacMadame]

This is horrible. Those children had their entire lives ahead of them, now its gone. My heartfelt condolences to all the friends and families of those on the plane. I remember Shishkova/Naumov. A classic Russian pair. I can't imagine what Maxim is going through

And many families also lost a parent to the remaining kids. It's so tragic all around.

I’m hearing that it was a recertification flight and these were all experienced pilots, so yeah, something got screwed up.

I have things to say about this but they are better left for PI.

 

[jkl]

I would love it if the SCOB (or the ISU) would ask Maxim Naumov to skate in the Gala at Boston Worlds. Of course I will be a blubbering fool if he does skate but I bet I won’t be the only one.

 

[Aceon6]

I would love it if the SCOB (or the ISU) would ask Maxim Naumov to skate in the Gala at Boston Worlds. Of course I will be a blubbering fool if he does skate but I bet I won’t be the only one.

I would love it if USFS lets Max do whatever he pleases in the months ahead. If he thinks skating will help, great. If he decides to hang his skates up for a while or longer, also great.

 

[FSWer]

Do we have a complete list of names to go with the skaters on that plane? I was wondering who they were. Btw. I am really suprised that this could happen. Because you'ld think there're be a way for the control tower or a computer to detect and tell the pilot when other planes, holicopters or even birds were in the way of the flight path, so he could fly around it. Also I myself have not taken a plane in years. But from what I've heard and understand about how a plane is flown now. These days a computer flies the plane, and it does not land the plane until it gets to a destination. Unlike the old days were the pilot flew the plane. All he and the crew do is keep a eye on it. Does anyone know if I'm correct on this? It is so sad that this has happened.

 

[Sylvia]

2 skaters & 1 parent not yet mentioned in this thread:

Brielle Beyer (SC of Northern Virginia) - Easterns Juvenile Girls bronze medalist
Brielle's mother, Justyna Magdalena
Cory Haynos (SC of Northern Virginia) - Easterns Intermediate Men's bronze medalist
ETA (post #145 below):

Cory was with his mom Stephanie and dad Roger Haynos

Source link with photos: https://x.com/goldenskate/status/1885057466586505410
Alternative link:

Golden Skate on Instagram: "The Golden Skate community joins the figure skating world in expressing our shock and deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and loved ones of the coaches, athletes, and family members who tragically lost their lives

22K likes, 227 comments - goldsk8 on January 30, 2025: "The Golden Skate community joins the figure skating world in expressing our shock and deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and loved ones of the coaches, athletes, and family members who tragically lost their lives on American Eagle...

www.instagram.com

Mentioned earlier in this thread (8 skaters, 2 mothers, 3 coaches) as having been on AA #534:

Vadim Naumov (Coach – Skating Club of Boston)
Evgenia Shishkova (Coach – Skating Club of Boston)
Spencer Lane (SC of Boston) - Easterns Intermediate Men's champion, coached by Shishkova & Naumov
Christine Lane, mother of Spencer Lane
Jinna Han (SC of Boston) - Easterns Novice Women's pewter medalist [coached, AFAIK, by Letov & Ganicheva who were already home]
Jin Han, mother of Jinna Han
Edward Zhou (SC of Northern Virginia), Easterns Novice Men's pewter medalist
Everly Livingston (Washington FSC), Easterns Intermediate Women's pewter medalist
Alydia Livingston (Washington FSC), Everly's younger sister
Franco Aparicio (Washington FSC), Easterns Intermediate Men's pewter medalist
Sean Kay (Univ. of Delaware FSC)
Angela Yang (Univ. of Delaware FSC) - Yang/Kay won the Juvenile Dance gold medal at the Ice Dance Final at Mids in Nov. 2024
Alexandr (Sasha) Kirsanov - coach of Yang/Kay at the University of Delaware FSC
Inna Volyanskaya - coach of Aparicio and Everly Livingston at Washington FSC (ETA that Volyanskaya's best known skater is 14-year-old Sofia Bezkorovainaya who placed 8th in the Junior Women's event at Wichita Nationals - she was not on the plane)

 

[Sarah]

Just sharing a letter that went out to University of Delaware community:

Dear UD Community,

I am incredibly saddened to share the news that several members of the figure skating community connected to the University of Delaware were among those who tragically lost their lives in an aircraft collision last night in Washington, DC.

At this time, we are aware that Sasha Kirsanov, a former UD Figure Skating Club coach, was on the airplane. We believe two young skaters who were members of the UD Figure Skating Club also were on board. It is unknown at this time whether these young skaters — who are not UD students — were accompanied by their parents or other chaperones. Kirsanov and the skaters trained at the University’s High Performance Training Center, which uses UD ice rink facilities and has been the training home for many years of multiple world-class skating champions and competitors. The figure skating community is tight-knit, and many of our students and coaches have trained and competed alongside those who were lost.

More details will become known as the investigation continues. For now, please know that the University has support resources for those who may need them, and that information is provided at the bottom of this email. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all of the victims of this horrific tragedy.

ETA link to letter

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I would love it if the SCOB (or the ISU) would ask Maxim Naumov to skate in the Gala at Boston Worlds. Of course I will be a blubbering fool if he does skate but I bet I won’t be the only one.

No one should ask Max for anything at all. If he chooses to make any kind of public statement or participate in any tribute, that should be up to him alone.

 

[Karen-W]

Clip from NBC Sports' Euros broadcast earlier today - you can hear Johnny's voice crack as he read portions of the statements from the USFS and ISU.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885066677538242914

 

[Spartacus]

I would love it if the SCOB (or the ISU) would ask Maxim Naumov to skate in the Gala at Boston Worlds. Of course I will be a blubbering fool if he does skate but I bet I won’t be the only one.

Way too soon to even be thinking about such things imo.

 

[Amy L]

Max's personal life and skating career is completely intertwined. There is no manual on how to deal with losing parents and coaches in the same instant. He will have to unravel and rebuild his life in whatever manner makes sense to him.

 

[livetoskate]

Nancy Kerrigan spoke at a press conference from the Skate Club of Boston (I believe) with others including Doug Zeghibe
They're all, understandably, just devastated.

Here is the video from 13NewsNow:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[skatfan]

Clip from NBC Sports' Euros broadcast earlier today - you can hear Johnny's voice crack as he read portions of the statements from the USFS and ISU.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885066677538242914

Poor Tara, she has had so many blows in the past month. Evacuated from her home for at least a year by the fires, a failed embryo IVF transfer, and now a first-row bystander to this tragedy in the sport that was providing her a diversion from the other stuff.

 

[Sylvia]

Jake Tapper is speaking to Brian Boitano on CNN right now.

 

[AnnM]

Sharing a post from Jackie Wong:

"Skating fam: A request

A major media outlet reached out to me to help with identifying friends of the victims; they want to help tell the victims’ stories and celebrate their lives

If you were particularly close to any of them and you would like to speak to this outlet, can you DM me please?"

Jackie Wong | Rocker Skating (@rockerskating.com)

Skating fam: A request A major media outlet reached out to me to help with identifying friends of the victims; they want to help tell the victims’ stories and celebrate their lives If you were particularly close to any of them and you would like to speak to this outlet, can you DM me please?

bsky.app

 

[Rukia]

Clip from NBC Sports' Euros broadcast earlier today - you can hear Johnny's voice crack as he read portions of the statements from the USFS and ISU.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885066677538242914

this is absolutely brutal to listen to

 

[marshallpond]

Cory Haynos (SC of Northern Virginia) - Easterns Intermediate Men's bronze medalist

Cory was with his mom Stephanie and dad Roger Haynos

 

[Sylvia]

Inna Volyanskaya - coach of Aparicio and Everly Livingston at Washington FSC (ETA that Volyanskaya's best known skater is 14-year-old Sofia Bezkorovainaya who placed 8th in the Junior Women's event at Wichita Nationals - she was not on the plane)

Anton Spiridonov shared this 1.5-minute video of his father Valeriy Spiridonov performing to Spartacus with Inna Volyanskaya: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFdBISzOFD_/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Karen-W]

this is absolutely brutal to listen to

I hadn't even listened to the entire thing, but your post made me go back and listen to the rest. It is agonizing.

 

[flyingsit]

Max's personal life and skating career is completely intertwined. There is no manual on how to deal with losing parents and coaches in the same instant. He will have to unravel and rebuild his life in whatever manner makes sense to him.

I really really hope that he has sufficient support, emotional and otherwise.

 

[Rob]

The Skating Lesson FB page has bios of the skaters and whether they were accompanied by family members or coaches. It’s heartbreaking.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Here is the video from 13NewsNow:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Thank you for posting this, so much to absorb and process, especially with so many references to 1961 as well. And now worlds are going to be in Boston of all places… So much to think about.