In a heartbreaking update to Wednesday night’s plane crash near Washington, D.C., Russian state media has confirmed that former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers on board the ill-fated flight. The couple, who won the pairs figure skating world championship in 1994, were traveling with a group of young skaters when their plane collided with a U.S. Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River.
A Legacy on Ice
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, rose to fame in the 1990s as one of the most celebrated pairs in figure skating. After retiring from competition, they moved to the United States, where they became renowned coaches, training the next generation of skaters. Their son, Maxim Naumov, who competed for the U.S. in singles figure skating, was also feared to be on the flight.
The couple had been returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, where Maxim had competed from January 20 to 26. According to Russian news outlets, they were traveling with a group of 13 young skaters, many of whom were children of Russian emigrants.
Tributes Pour In
The figure skating community has been left in shock by the news. Inna Volyanskaya, a former Soviet skater and coach at the Washington Figure Skating Club, was also reported to be on the flight. Her contributions to the sport, both as a competitor and a mentor, have been widely celebrated.
“Yevgenia and Vadim were not only incredible athletes but also inspiring coaches who dedicated their lives to nurturing young talent,” said a spokesperson for the International Skating Union. “Their loss is a devastating blow to the skating world.”
The Tragic Crash
The crash occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday when American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines, collided with a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The plane, carrying 64 people, and the helicopter, with a crew of three, crashed into the Potomac River, sparking a massive rescue operation.
As of Thursday morning, the number of casualties remains unclear. Rescue teams continue to search the frigid waters for survivors, but hopes are fading as time passes.
A Community in Mourning
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit figure skating community, both in the United States and Russia. Social media has been flooded with tributes to Shishkova, Naumov, and the other victims, with many sharing memories of their contributions to the sport.
“They were more than coaches—they were family to so many of us,” said one of their former students. “Their passion for skating was contagious, and their legacy will live on through all the lives they touched.”
What’s Next?
As the investigation into the crash continues, questions remain about how such a tragic collision could occur in one of the most heavily monitored airspaces in the world. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the inquiry, with a focus on air traffic control protocols and communication between military and civilian aircraft.
For now, the figure skating community is left to mourn the loss of two of its brightest stars and the young skaters who were following in their footsteps.
