US Figure Skating athletes and coaches were among the 64 victims that perished on American Eagle Flight 5342 on January 28, 2025 (Top Row L-R): Everly Livingston (14) and Alydia Livingston (11), Olivia Ter (12), Edward Zhou (16), Angela Yang (11) and Sean Kay (11). (Middle Row L-R) Spencer Lane (16), Franco Aparicio (13), Jinna Han (13), and Brielle Beyer (12). (Bottom Row L-R) Cory Haynos (16), Inna Volyanskaya (59), Alexandr Kirsanov (46), Evgenia Shishkova (52) and Vadim Naumov (55).
In a devastating accident near Washington, D.C., on January 29, 2025, American Airlines flight 5342 carrying members of the U.S. figure skating community collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the tragic loss of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
Among the 64 passengers and crew members on American Airlines Flight 5342, 28 were affiliated with U.S. Figure Skating, including 11 promising athletes, four coaches, and 13 family members. They were returning home from the National Development Camp, which had taken place alongside the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. The camp, designed to nurture future champions, ended in heartbreak as the skating community mourns this unimaginable loss.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” US Figure Skating said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
The accident occurred when Flight 5342, en route to Washington, D.C., encountered the military helicopter in its flight path. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the collision, with early reports suggesting potential miscommunication between air traffic control and both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a full investigation.
Tributes have poured in from the global figure skating community, with athletes, coaches, and fans expressing their sorrow and support. Many have taken to social media to honor the victims, sharing heartfelt messages and memories.
The loss extends beyond the sport, affecting families who dedicated their lives to supporting their children’s dreams. “These were young athletes with bright futures, guided by mentors who gave their all to the sport,” said one U.S. Figure Skating official. “It’s an immeasurable loss.”
As the investigation unfolds, memorial services are being planned across the country to honor those lost. U.S. Figure Skating has pledged to support the affected families and has established a fund to support the victims and their families.
The athletes, coaches, and family members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team that perished aboard the flight are as follows:
Franco Aparicio, 13, Washington, D.C. (Athlete – Washington FSC) (Family Support Fund)
Luciano “Lucho” Aparicio, Washington, D.C. (Father of Franco Aparicio) (Family Support Fund)
Brielle Beyer, 12, Aldie, Va. (Athlete – SC of Northern Virginia) (Family Support Fund)
Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, Aldie, Va. (Mother of Brielle Beyer) (Family Support Fund)
Jin Han, 49, Mansfield, Mass. (Mother of Jinna Han) (Family Support Fund)
Jinna Han, 13, Mansfield, Mass. (Athlete – SC of Boston) (Family Support Fund)
Cory Haynos, 16, Annandale, Va. (Athlete – SC of Northern Virginia)
Roger Haynos, 56, Annandale, Va. (Father of Cory Hanos)
Stephanie Haynos, 56, Annandale, Va. (Mother of Cory Haynos)
Julia Kay, 42, Bear, Del. (Mother of Sean Kay) (Family Support Fund)
Sean Kay, 11, Bear, Del. (Athlete – UD FSC) (Family Support Fund)
Alexandr Kirsanov, 46, Bear, Del. (Coach – UD FSC) (Family and all victims)
Christine Lane, 49, Barrington, R.I. (Mother of Spencer Lane)
Spencer Lane, 16, Barrington, R.I. (Athlete – SC of Boston)
Alydia Livingston, 11, Ashburn, Va. (Athlete – Washington FSC)
Everly Livingston, 14, Ashburn, Va. (Athlete – Washington FSC)
Donna Livingston, 48, Ashburn, Va. (Mother of Everly and Alydia Livingston)
Peter Livingston, 48, Ashburn, Va. (Father of Everly and Alydia Livingston)
Vadim Naumov, 55, Norwood, Mass. (Coach – SC of Boston / Husband of Evgenia Shishkova)
Olesya Ter, 50, Alexandria, Va. (Mother of Oliva Ter) (Family Support Fund)
Olivia Ter, 12, Alexandria, Va. (ION FSC) (Family Support Fund)
Evgenia Shishkova, 52, Norwood, Mass. (Coach – SC of Boston / Wife of Vadim Naumov)
Inna Volyanskaya, 59, Oakton, Va. (Coach – Washington FSC)
Angela Yang, 11, (Athlete – UD FSC) (Family Support Fund)
Lily Yang, 50, (Mother of Angela Yang) (Family Support Fund)
Edward Zhou, 16, Fairfax, Va. (Athlete – SC of Northern Virginia)
Kaiyan Mao, 52, Fairfax, Va. (Mother of Edward Zhou)
Yu “Joe” Zhou, 60, Fairfax, Va. (Father of Edward Zhou)
The crash serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating loss of the entire U.S. figure skating team on Sabena Flight 548 in 1961, most of whom were from the Skating Club of Boston. That disaster profoundly impacted the figure skating community, wiping out a generation of top athletes, coaches, and officials. In the aftermath, the sport had to rebuild from the ground up, and the memory of those lost continues to be an integral part of U.S. Figure Skating’s history.
