A devastating midair collision over Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night claimed the lives of 67 people, marking the nation’s first major commercial airline crash since 2009. A regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, plunging into the frigid Potomac River and breaking apart on impact. There were no survivors.
The regional jet, en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Reagan National Airport, carried 64 passengers. Aboard the Army helicopter were three soldiers undertaking a routine training mission. None of the soldiers held senior leadership positions.
Among the victims were a significant number of individuals connected to the figure skating community. Fourteen people were returning from a national figure skating development camp in Wichita, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston. This included world champion figure skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who joined the club in 2017; figure skater Jinna Han and her mother, Jin Han; and skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane. Spencer’s father, Doug Lane, described his son’s athletic prowess and his wife’s dedication to her family and community. The wife of skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov, Natalya Gudin, confirmed her husband and two young skaters under his tutelage were also on the flight.
The crash also claimed the lives of several other individuals whose stories highlight the diverse tapestry of lives lost. Samuel Lilley, the first officer on the American Airlines flight, was recently engaged and deeply passionate about flying, a legacy shared with his father, a former Army Black Hawk pilot who flew the same Potomac River route. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp identified Ryan O’Hara, one of the soldiers, and Samuel Lilley as victims from Georgia. Ian Epstein, a flight attendant, was remembered by his family as a loving husband, father, stepfather, and brother. Wendy Jo Shaffer’s family mourned her loss, emphasizing her roles as a daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother. Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother, Justyna Beyer, were also among the victims; Brielle was a courageous figure skater who had overcome cancer as a baby. Elizabeth Keys, a Washington-based attorney, was returning home for a birthday date. Sean Kay and Angela Yang were traveling with coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. Casey Crafton, a father of three, was remembered by Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. Grace Maxwell, a Cedarville University engineering student, was described as a thoughtful leader. Olivia Ter, a 12-year-old figure skater, was mourned by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Kiah Duggins, a civil rights attorney and incoming Howard University professor, was remembered for her dedication to social justice. Lindsey Fields, the president-elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers, was on her way to advocate for life science education. Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter Livingston, and their daughters Everly and Alydia Livingston, known for their “Ice Skating Sisters” Instagram account, perished in the crash. Five members of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters—Pitcher, McDaniel, Boyd, Stovall, and Huffman—also lost their lives.
The Army identified the three soldiers killed as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, and Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. Tributes poured in, highlighting their service, dedication, and contributions to the military and their communities. The Army released statements from the families of O’Hara and Lobach, sharing their grief and celebrating their loved ones’ lives. The ongoing investigations into the cause of the crash continue.