Six Boston Skaters Among Victims of Tragic Plane Crash in D.C./ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Skating Club of Boston is mourning the loss of six of its members, including two teenage skaters, their mothers, and world champion coaches killed in the American Airlines plane crash near Washington, D.C.. The victims were among 14 members of the skating community returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas when the flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, killing all 64 people on board. The tragedy has shaken the tight-knit figure skating world, with U.S. Figure Skating and international organizations expressing their grief.
Boston Skaters Among Victims in Plane Crash: Quick Looks
- Skating Club of Boston lost six members, including two young skaters, their mothers, and two renowned coaches.
- 1994 world champion coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the deceased.
- Teen skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, both rising stars, also perished.
- 14 figure skating community members were on board the doomed flight.
- The crash mirrors a 1961 plane disaster, which also deeply affected the U.S. skating community.
- The world skating community is mourning, with tributes pouring in from the U.S. and international organizations.
Six Boston Skaters Among Victims of Tragic Plane Crash in D.C.
Figure Skating Community Mourns Loss of Boston Athletes in Plane Crash
Skating Club of Boston Hit by Tragedy
The Skating Club of Boston, one of the nation’s most prestigious figure skating institutions, is mourning the loss of six members who were among the 64 victims of the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
- The victims included teens Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with their mothers.
- 1994 pairs world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both coaches at the Boston club, were also on board.
- In total, 14 members of the figure skating community were traveling on the flight returning from the national development camp in Wichita, Kansas.
“Skating is a very close and tight-knit community. This will have long-reaching impacts for our skating family,” said Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston.
A Devastating Loss for U.S. Figure Skating
The crash has sent shockwaves through the figure skating world, recalling the 1961 tragedy that wiped out the entire U.S. team en route to the World Championships in Prague.
- U.S. Figure Skating released a statement, expressing heartbreak and condolences.
- The International Skating Union (ISU) also issued a statement of shock and grief, offering support to the American skating community.
- The European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia will proceed as scheduled, but competitors are honoring the victims.
“Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family,” said U.S. Figure Skating.
Who Were the Victims?
Among those lost were:
Coaches
- Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov – 1994 world champions and highly respected coaches at the Skating Club of Boston.
- Their son, Maxim Naumov, a U.S. national competitor, had just finished fourth at the senior championships days before the crash.
Young Skaters
- Spencer Lane – 2025 Intermediate Eastern Sectionals Champion, known for his viral skating videos on social media.
- Jinna Han – A promising young skater, active in the competitive figure skating circuit.
“When you lose coaches like this, you lose the future of the sport,” Zeghibe added.
A Connection to the 1961 U.S. Skating Team Disaster
The tragedy echoes the 1961 plane crash, where the entire U.S. Figure Skating team was lost en route to the World Championships. That crash led to:
- The cancellation of the World Championships in honor of the victims.
- A long rebuilding period for U.S. Figure Skating, which took decades to recover.
“This club has just now, almost 60 years later, been coming out of the shadow of that 1961 crash,” Zeghibe said.
Final Thoughts: A Profound Loss for Figure Skating
As the skating world processes this tragedy, the Skating Club of Boston remains committed to hosting the 2025 World Championships in March, ensuring that the victims’ legacy continues to inspire future generations.
“We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time,” the International Skating Union said.
The loss of rising stars, world-class coaches, and devoted parents marks a heartbreaking chapter in figure skating history, with the global skating community rallying in grief and solidarity.
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