On the evening of the incident, an American Airlines regional jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in close proximity to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The ill-fated American Eagle Flight 5342 was en route from Wichita, Kansas to DCA, carrying a total of 64 individuals, which included several prominent U.S. figure skaters. The military helicopter had three soldiers aboard during the tragic event.

As of the latest updates, recovery efforts have successfully retrieved 27 bodies from the wreckage of the airplane and one from the helicopter. However, the Chief of DC Fire and EMS has stated that officials ?do not believe there are survivors? among the tragic victims.

The International Skating Union (ISU) released a heartfelt statement, expressing that it was ?deeply shocked? and ?heartbroken? by the events of the accident. Concurrently, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that ?several members? of their community, including athletes, coaches, and family members, tragically lost their lives, although the names of the victims have not yet been released.

Meanwhile, the Skating Club of Boston has confirmed the identities of six club members and affiliates who were onboard the flight. Among them are young skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their respective mothers, Jin and Christine, as well as their coaches ? 1994 pairs world champions from Russia, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova ? all of whom were tragically aboard American Eagle Flight 5342.

During a press conference at the Skating Club of Boston on Thursday, 1994 Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan, who is an alumna of the club, became emotional as she reflected on the tragic accident that has shaken the community.

Kerrigan emphasized that the Boston figure skating community has ?always stood by? her during the challenging times of her career, and now it is her ?turn? to ?be there? for her fellow skaters in this time of profound loss.

?I want to give back what I feel I have received,? she expressed, before answering a question about how the community can unite even amidst the sport’s inherent ?competitiveness.?

?I believe there?s a true camaraderie among us. We often focus on ourselves or our partners if we?re in pairs or dance,? she elaborated. ?Even in the cold ? not so much here ? but for hours on end ? there?s this sense of connection. You don?t have to know everyone to feel that bond, as we?ve all been through the same rigorous training, enduring countless falls and having to pick ourselves back up, which is a fundamental lesson we learn in skating: you get back up.?

?Keep trying, and even when it?s hard, you must get back up,? Kerrigan added. ?Even if you?re crying, in pain, or feeling hurt, you get back up and keep moving forward.?

On the other hand, former figure skater and Kerrigan?s well-known rival, Tonya Harding, who recently joined X, expressed her condolences, stating, ?The events that transpired last night in Washington, D.C. are profoundly devastating. I?ve been informed that several professional figure skaters were also aboard the flight. Sending my love and prayers to all the victims and their families.?

1998 Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski shared her grief in a heartfelt statement on her Instagram Stories. ?My heart is broken for our skating community,? she wrote. ?The magnitude of this loss is unimaginable. We will mourn their absence and cherish their memories forever. My heart is with all the families affected ? for that, I find myself at a loss for words.?

??Strength? and ?Love? do not suffice to express this grief. So many of our own were on that tragic flight, and my heart aches for them and for everyone involved in this devastating accident,? she continued.

Two-time Olympian Johnny Weir, who is also a close friend of Lipinski, shared a post on his Stories, stating, ?I am praying for everyone impacted by this tragic accident. Members of our skating family were on that flight returning home from Nationals in Wichita. We mourn their loss and pray for their families and loved ones.?

Adam Rippon expressed his shock by writing, ?Unbelievable,? on his Instagram Stories, while several current Team USA figure skaters confirmed that they were on different flights from Wichita and are safe.

Christina Carrerira shared on her Stories, ?Hello everyone, Anthony and I were listed among the presumed individuals onboard the American Airlines flight. We?ve received numerous messages of concern; we were not on that flight, and we are both home safe. Our hearts break this morning for all the families affected by this, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.?

Kaitlin Hawayek mentioned that she ?took an early flight out? from Wichita, expressing that her ?heart is completely broken.? ?The skating community will not be the same,? she added in part of her statement shared on her Stories.

Similarly, Alisa Efimova shared on her Stories that she and her partner, Misha Mitrofanov, returned from Wichita on Monday. ?There are no words that could ease the pain from the horrors of last night,? she continued. ?The least we can do is respect each other’s boundaries and steer clear of gossip and speculation.?

Figure skating expert Jackie Wong posted a heartfelt statement on X following the tragedy. ?The skating community is small ? many people know one another or know of one another,? he expressed. ?What happened last night was devastating. Please keep the families and loved ones of all involved in your thoughts. Be kind to one another.?

Olympic alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin also took to X to express her sorrow regarding the catastrophic crash. ?My heart goes out to the entire figure skating community after this tragic and devastating loss,? she stated.

In the meantime, President Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social account, commenting, ?The airplane was on a perfect and routine approach to the airport. The helicopter was heading straight toward the airplane for an extended period. It was a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the airplane were blazing; why didn?t the helicopter ascend, descend, or turn? Why didn?t the control tower inform the helicopter on what to do instead of asking if they saw the airplane??

?This is a dangerous situation that seems like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!,? he concluded.

During a press conference on Thursday morning, Trump attributed the incident to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or DEI, while also stating, ?we do not know what led to this crash, but we have very strong opinions.?

When a reporter inquired why he concluded that diversity was a factor, he responded, ?Because I have common sense, and sadly, many people do not.?

Trump also referred to former President Joe Biden?s Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, with disdain, calling him ?bulls?t.?

Biden, meanwhile, shared a message on X following the crash, stating, ?Jill and I are praying for the families of the victims who trag

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