Devastating midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has claimed the lives of several young U.S. figure skaters and their coaches. American Eagle Flight 5342, carrying at least 11 skaters and their mentors, tragically crashed after colliding with a military helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday night. The skaters were returning from the National Development Camp following the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
The victims onboard included rising stars in the figure skating world, many of whom had promising careers ahead. Among those confirmed to be on the flight were Spencer Lane, Jinna Han, Eddie Zhou, Everly Livingston, Lydia Livingston, Franco Aparicio, Sean Kay, Angela Yang, Vadim Naumov, Genia Shishkova, and Inna Volyanskaya. The full passenger list has yet to be officially released, but sources close to the figure skating community have verified that multiple members of the U.S. National Development Team were on board.
American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines, was an Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet. The aircraft was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) to Washington, D.C. (DCA) when it collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter during its approach to Runway 33. The impact led to an immediate suspension of air traffic at Reagan National Airport.
Emergency responders received the first reports of the crash at 8:48 p.m. ET, with rescue teams arriving at the scene within minutes. Over 300 first responders were deployed to recover victims from the wreckage, with divers discovering multiple passengers still strapped into their seats underwater. So far, at least 19 fatalities have been confirmed, but search and recovery efforts continue.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, assuring the public that the airline is cooperating fully with investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the investigation, alongside the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FBI’s Washington Field Office has also joined the response team, but authorities have found no evidence of criminal or terrorist activity related to the crash.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement extending condolences to the families affected and urged the public to respect their privacy. Meanwhile, the figure skating community has been left heartbroken by the tragic loss. Friends, families, and colleagues of those onboard have flooded social media with messages of grief and prayers for survivors.
Journalist Bill Melugin shared a deeply personal account, revealing that a close friend lost his wife in the crash, leaving behind two young children. “Our friend group is with him for support,” Melugin said, highlighting the emotional devastation caused by the disaster.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the collision or whether any distress signals were sent before impact. Officials have urged the public to avoid speculation and wait for verified updates as search and recovery operations continue. The investigation is expected to take months, with experts working tirelessly to piece together the events that led to this devastating loss.
