In a DC aircraft crash, married world champion skaters were killed

The entire country has been rocked by the horrific plane disaster in Washington, D.C., which involved a military helicopter and a passenger airliner. The flight included skaters, officials, and their families, according to confirmation from the U.S. Figure Skating Association.

The Russian news outlet Tass said that former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among those participating.

Following a devastating midair accident between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter close to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., authorities have confirmed that no survivors are anticipated.

Crews have switched to a recovery operation, the fire and EMS chief stated Thursday. According to ABC News, 28 dead have been found so far, including 27 from the aircraft and one from the Black Hawk chopper.

John Donnelly, the fire chief for Washington, described the situation as “very complex,” pointing out the difficult circumstances, which include heavy gusts, low temperatures, and poor visibility in the black waters.

A passenger airliner struck a U.S. Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at approximately 9:00 PM local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to reports, the military helicopter had three soldiers on board, allegedly on a training trip, while the commercial passenger flight was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. Unsettling CCTV footage that shows the incident has surfaced online from a nearby building. Both planes plunge into the Potomac River shortly after collision, causing a huge burst of fire.

The puzzle of who was on board the jet is beginning to come together as more information about the horrific incident becomes available. U.S. Figure Skating, for instance, has previously verified that a number of skaters, coaches, and family members were on the commercial flight following the national championships, which concluded in Wichita, Kansas, on Sunday, after attending a development camp. In a statement, U.S. Figure Skating said, “We are devastated to hear that figure skaters, as well as their families, friends, and coaches, are believed to be among those on board.” “Everyone impacted by this tragedy is in our thoughts and prayers.”

More information surfaced later in the day. According to Doug Zeghibe, the chief administrator of the Skating Club of Boston, among those killed were two young figure skaters, two of their parents, and two highly recognised Russian figure skating trainers.

Skateboarders Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, as well as coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were among those murdered, Zeghibe told AP. During a news conference, he was very upset and stated, “This will have long-reaching impacts for our community.”

The untimely deaths of former world champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were also verified by Russian news outlets. The famous duo was confirmed to be on the flight by the Kremlin. After winning the world title as a pair in 1994 in Chiba, Japan, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were well-known skaters in their own right.

They moved to the United States to pursue teaching after their professional careers, first at the International Skating Centre in Connecticut and then, since 2017, at the Skating Club of Boston.

According to reports, their son, competitive skater Maxim Naumov, who recently participated in the U.S. Championships in Wichita, may have been aboard the flight. This past Sunday, as his parents were in the grandstand at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion, just missed the podium after finishing fourth at senior nationals for the previous three years.

Russian-born figure skating teachers Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova had been in the United States since at least 1998. In addition to their personal relationship, the couple, who were married on August 7, 1995, competed together on the ice until 1998.

Naumov, who was three years older than Shishkova and both from Soviet Leningrad, started skating in 1979 when he was ten years old. According to the Daily Mail, Shishkova began skating at the age of eight and trained for three years as a singles skater before deciding to convert to pairs and teaming up with Naumov.

The devastating news has shocked and saddened the figure skating community and fans. On social media, someone wrote, “I recall them competing.” How tragic. “May they all rest in peace,” another person wrote.

Their childhood coach, Ludmila Velikova, expressed her profound sadness over the untimely death. “My favourite athletes were them,” Velikova told the Daily Mail. They participated in my initial run for the world championships and won the title in 1994.

They were kind and gifted individuals. “They were like my children, aside from anything else,” she added. I began training Zhenya (Shishkova) at the age of eleven, and Vladik (Naumov) at the age of fourteen. What has occurred is terrible. We have lost the greatest individuals.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by this tragedy. The love and support of those around us is what gets us through unspeakable anguish during times like these. As we wait for additional information on this tragic tale, let’s remember them and keep their families in our prayers.