Washington DC Plane Disaster: Married World Champion Skaters Lost in Tragedy
A tragic plane crash occurred over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025, after a midair collision. Emergency teams are working in freezing conditions as they search for survivors. Among those on board were world-champion athletes who were returning from a major event.
A commercial plane, carrying 64 people, crashed into the river after hitting a military helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport. The plane had just taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was minutes from landing when the accident took place.
The collision caused an explosion, and the plane crashed at 8:53 p.m. While the number of survivors is still uncertain, officials fear there may be none. The flight included several figure skaters, coaches, and their family members, returning from a U.S. Figure Skating development camp.
At 8:47 p.m., a live webcam from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts reportedly captured the crash. Witnesses saw a fireball and a trail of smoke, and emergency teams were alerted immediately.
The passenger jet carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter, from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had three soldiers on board. Rescue operations began quickly, with about 300 emergency responders working through the night. Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly described the conditions as “highly complex,” with strong winds, freezing temperatures, and low visibility in the dark waters.
By early Thursday, January 30, 2025, at least 19 bodies had been recovered, but the total number of fatalities was still unknown.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several athletes, coaches, and family members were on the flight. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization stated. Sources said that world-champion figure skaters Vadim Naumov and his wife Evgenia Shishkova were on board, along with their son, Maxim Naumov, a competitive skater who had recently participated in the U.S. Championships in Wichita.
Other reports named Inna Volyanskaya, a former competitive skater and coach, as another passenger.
Vadim and Evgenia Naumov were well-known in the figure skating world. They won the 1994 World Championship in pairs skating and later became coaches, shaping the careers of young skaters in the U.S.
The figure skating community and fans have expressed their shock and sorrow over the tragedy. Many have shared their memories of the athletes and offered condolences.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and military officials are looking into the crash. After the incident, all flights at Reagan National Airport were halted.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke at a press conference, saying, “We are going to recover our fellow citizens,” but did not give an exact number of bodies recovered. The search and recovery efforts are expected to continue for several days due to the complexity of the crash site. Officials have not yet released the final passenger list or confirmed the total number of fatalities.
This is a developing story, and further details are expected to be released as the investigation continues.
