The figure skating world is mourning after the devastating midair collision near Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of beloved coaches and former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. They were among multiple skaters, coaches, and families aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29.
The crash, captured in chilling footage, sent both aircraft into the icy Potomac River, where rescue teams face grueling conditions. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered.
Rising star Spencer Lane was among those lost, his Olympic dreams tragically cut short. Meanwhile, their son, Maxim Naumov, was spared but now faces unimaginable grief.
President Trump questioned how the crash occurred, while investigations continue. The skating community, shattered by this loss, honors the victims’ legacies as mentors and champions. A vigil in Wichita will commemorate their lives.
