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The U.S. Figure Skating organization is helping those directly impacted by the recent American Airlines plane crash.
“On January 29, 2025, our U.S. Figure Skating family suffered an unimaginable loss when several members of our community — athletes, coaches, and family members —perished aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which tragically collided with a helicopter in Washington, D.C.,” a website description reads. “These individuals were returning home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, a place where young skaters take their next steps toward their dreams.”
The statement adds, “We are devastated by this loss and are holding the victims’ loved ones closely in our hearts. In response, we have established the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund to provide financial assistance to those U.S. Figure Skating families directly impacted by the tragedy.”
The U.S. Figure Skating nonprofit joined forces with intermediary organization Global Impact to collect donations for the victims’ families.
Former Olympic ice dancer Alex Shibutani shared the fund link via his Instagram Stories on Saturday, February 1, writing, “Please be sensitive and respectful of the privacy of those directly affected. If you or someone you know is in need of help and support, call or text the SAMSA Disaster Distress Helpline.”
News broke on Wednesday, January 29, that a commercial American Airlines flight traveling from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military helicopter and crashed in the Potomac River outside Washington, D.C. All 67 individuals involved in the accident died upon impact.
The American Airlines flight carried four crew members and 60 passengers, many of whom were young figure skaters. According to the skating organization, 14 participants from their Wichita training development camp earlier this month were among the victims.
“It’s beyond the skating community. So many people see this tragedy and the loss of these brilliant young skaters who have poured their lives into building an identity in our sport,” Olympian Scott Hamilton said on the Today show on Friday, January 31. “For their lives to be taken … is just devastating [and] shocking. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
He continued, “This is where the community comes together. It’s a very tight-knit, very close-knit, very wonderful, caring, supportive community. We’re no stranger to tragedy, but this is just beyond devastation.”
Two of the victims were 1994 Olympic gold medalists Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who worked as skating coaches.
“I’ve seen them a lot of times over the years, but everything I’ve heard of them was maybe they’re a little tough, but with a smile on their faces,” Nancy Kerrigan, who also competed at the 1994 Games, recalled earlier this week. “Any time I walked [into a room], it was, ‘Oh, hi, it’s so good to see you,’ and [they were] welcoming and happy to see one another. To walk into [the Skating Club of Boston rink] and not see that, I think would be very strange for anyone that comes here day in and day out.”
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