A tragic midair collision occurred Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, involving American Eagle Flight 5342 and a military helicopter over the Potomac River.
The flight carried numerous skaters, coaches, and their families, many of whom were returning from the National Development Camp following the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
Skaters Confirmed to Be on Board:
- Spencer Lane
- Jinna Han
- Eddie Zhou
- Everly Livingston
- Lydia Livingston
- Franco Aparicio
- Sean Kay
- Angela Yang
- Vadim Naumov
- Evgenia Shishkova
- Inna Volyanskaya
While the full passenger list has not yet been confirmed by the airline, sources within the figure skating community have verified that several U.S. National Development Team skaters were among those onboard. Reports indicate that at least 11 young skaters and their coaches were passengers on the flight.
Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines, was an Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet carrying 64 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) to Washington, D.C. (DCA) when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 military helicopter while approaching Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport.
Following the crash, all air traffic at the airport was suspended.
Emergency responders received the first alert at 8:48 p.m. ET, with rescue teams arriving at the scene ten minutes later. More than 300 first responders were deployed, working to recover victims from the wreckage. Divers discovered multiple passengers still strapped into their seats underwater.
At least 19 fatalities have been confirmed, and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, assuring the airline is working closely with investigators. The FBI’s Washington Field Office is assisting in the response, though officials have stated there are no signs of criminal or terrorist involvement.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser extended her condolences and urged the public to respect the privacy of affected families.
The figure skating community is in mourning as friends, family, and colleagues of the skaters and coaches onboard share their heartbreak on social media and pray for survivors.
Journalist Bill Melugin revealed that a close friend lost his wife in the crash, leaving behind two young children, ages 3 and 1. “Our friend group is supporting him,” he shared, noting the distress caused by conflicting survivor reports.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collision or whether any distress signals were sent before impact.