Figure skating legend Tara Lipinski says her “heart is broken” after the “unimaginable” Washington, DC, plane crash that claimed the lives of multiple athletes.
“My heart is broken for our skating community,” she captioned via Instagram Stories a news article about the crash Thursday morning.
“It’s unimaginable the loss. We will mourn their loss and ALWAYS remember them. My heart is with all the families affected- that part I have no words for.”
The “Ice Angel” actress, 42, went on to say that “strength and loss won’t do it justice,” adding that her heart “aches” for those who lost their lives in the crash, as well as “everyone part of this devastating accident.”
Her reaction comes just a few hours after the US Figure Skating governing body released a statement announcing that several members of the skating community were onboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a Blackhawk military helicopter Wednesday night.
The statement said in part, “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
According to reports, at least 14 figure skaters were aboard the plane, which included a total of 60 passengers and four crew members. As for the helicopter, there were three soldiers aboard.
It is presumed that there are no survivors with at least 19 bodies being recovered from the Potomac River, where the plane crashed in, officials told CBS News.
The figure skaters — many of them teenagers — were returning home after spending the week in Kansas at a training camp.
Former Russian world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also onboard, according to Russian state news agencies.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed the “bad news from Washington today” in a press conference, according to NBC News.
“We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash,” he said. “Sad news is being confirmed.”
The couple — who got married in 1995 after being figure skating partners for years — were at the camp supporting their son, Maxim, 23.
It’s unknown if Maxim was also onboard the plane.
Read the full article here
