World champion Russian figure skaters confirmed as being on board crashed US plane
TDT | Manama
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Russian-born ice skating legends Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been confirmed as passengers aboard the American Airlines plane that tragically crashed into the Potomac River near Washington DC on Wednesday night. The crash, which occurred in one of the most heavily monitored airspaces in the world, claimed the lives of several individuals, including athletes, coaches, and family members returning from the US Figure Skating Championships.
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, made history in 1994 when they won the World Championships in pairs figure skating. They had been living in the United States since 1998, where they became renowned coaches, training the next generation of ice skaters. The pair was reportedly returning from a national development camp in Kansas, accompanied by a group of young athletes.
The US Figure Skating Association expressed its devastation, stating, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.” Russia’s Mash news outlet identified at least 13 skaters believed to have been on board, many of whom were children of Russian émigrés. Former Soviet Union skater Inna Volyanskaya, who worked as a coach at the Washington figure skating club, was also confirmed to have been on the flight.
While initial reports suggested that their son, Maxim Naumov, who had competed for the United States, might have been on the plane, other sources stated that he had flown out two days earlier.
The Kremlin expressed deep sorrow, sending condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the crash. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Shishkova and Naumov were on the flight and conveyed the government’s sympathies.
The crash occurred just three miles south of the White House and the Capitol when a regional jet collided with a military helicopter while approaching an airport runway around 9 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the figure skating community, and tributes are pouring in from athletes and fans around the world as they mourn the loss of two of the sport’s greatest champions.
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