On Wednesday, January 29, a commercial plane collided with a US Army helicopter, killing all 67 people involved in the accident. Of the 67 victims, 28 were figure skaters, parents, and coaches. Russia has also confirmed that some of the victims onboard were citizens.
The skaters were returning from a high-level development camp in Wichita, Kansas, a three-day program that welcomed elite skaters who qualified from their sectional final competitions. The skaters ranged from nine to seventeen years old.
The Reagan National Airport, where the collision occurred, has long been known for being a bustling hub for travel with 430 tracked flights on the day of the incident. Despite the civilian bustle of the airport, the military shares the airspace to practice routine training drills. Usually, these activities are monitored by two air traffic control personnel while only one is on duty then, adding a possible reason as to why the accident could have happened.
Many commercial pilots have since come forward claiming to have their own near-miss flights with nearby helicopters. It is apparent that the airport is failing to communicate the proximity of nearby flights to prevent such incidents from reoccurring. The Aviation Safety Reporting System has received safety reports and an investigation has been launched against the airport to further examine the cause of the crash. There is hope that the tragedy could help save lives by creating a safer airport.
With figure skating being a relatively small sport, the community is especially intimate. The loss to the figure skating world shocked thousands and saddened those who knew those lost in the crash. On Monday, February 3, ice rinks around the nation showed their reverence for victims and their families. Each rink that had a LiveBarn camera (a camera that faces the rink that skaters use to watch their progress) had members stand on the rink, holding up signs of support and hearts. Families of the victims were able to log onto the rink’s LiveBarns to see the skating community come together to show their respect.
Danica Lothrop (’24) said, “It’s devastating but I think it’s great seeing all the love and support from all the rinks around the nation.”
A list has been compiled of confirmed young victims and coaches:
Spencer Lane
Jinna Han
Angela Yang
Sean Kay
Brielle Beyer
Coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova
Coach Alexandr Kirsanov
Olivia Ter
Coach Inna Volyanskaya
Everly and Aldia Livingston
Cory Haynos
View this post on Instagram
On Tuesday, February 11, the Federal Airway Administration (FAA) allowed two runways at the Reagan National Airport to reopen. With the reopening of the runways, the FAA states that the airport will be able to increase its hourly arrival rate to 28 aircraft, the usual maximum being around 32. Restrictions on helicopter traffic remain in effect as the investigation continues. The National Transportation Safety Board anticipates releasing its preliminary report on the cause of the accident on February 28. It is unclear whether the airport will be experiencing any long-term modifications in response to the incident.
