Tonya Harding. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Tonya Harding is mourning the loss of the victims killed in the American Airlines passenger plane collision with an army helicopter in Washington D.C.
The former figure skater, 54, took to social media on Thursday, January 30 to share her devastation over the tragic crash, in which more than 60 people — including at least 14 professional US and international figure skaters — are feared to have been killed.
“The events that took place last night in Washington D.C. are absolutely devastating 💔,” she posted via her Instagram account. “I have been told members of the US figure skating team were on board, as well as international professional figure skaters and some family members as well.”
Harding concluded, “I’m sending my love and prayers to all the victims and their families.”
Harding is well known for her controversial history with former figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan, who was assaulted in 1994 by a man hired by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. The controversy was later turned into the 2017 movie I, Tonya, in which Harding was portrayed by Margot Robbie.
Kerrigan also reacted to the Washington D.C plane crash on Thursday, January 30.
Tonya Harding. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport)
“[I’m] not sure how to process it, which is why I’m here. Many of you may know that my husband is my agent. He keeps getting calls to do interviews, and I thought that was weird,” Kerrigan, 55, tearfully said during a press conference held at the Skating Club of Boston rink. “I didn’t feel like it was right to be home and doing interviews for this … I think we all just need to go together. We just wanted to be here and be part of our community.”
She added,“I just feel for the athletes, the skaters, their families and anyone who was on that plane — not just the skaters because it’s just such a tragic event. We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people and we are strong. So, my response is to be with people I care about and I love; I wanted to support. That’s why I’m here.”
The accident occurred when the flight collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter as it was attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Emergency officials have recovered 28 bodies as of Thursday, January 30, and there are not believed to be any survivors. The plane, American Airlines flight 5342, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew. The helicopter held three U.S. soldiers.
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