Wednesday, 05 February, 2025
Russian figure skaters, including world champion pair Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov—winners of the 1994 world pairs title—were aboard a US passenger jet that crashed in Washington on Wednesday, according to Russian news agencies.
The aircraft, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with a military helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
Citing a source, Russia’s state news agencies TASS and RIA reported on Thursday that Shishkova and Naumov were among the passengers. Former Soviet pair skater Inna Volyanskaya was also on board, the reports added.
Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, competed at six world championships between 1991 and 1996, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals. Their crowning achievement came in 1994 when they secured the world title in Chiba, Japan.
After starting their professional careers in Russia, the duo moved to the United States, where they transitioned into coaching. Local US media reported in 1998 that they had settled in Connecticut.
On Thursday, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian citizens were aboard the plane, saying it had seen "sad reports" that Shishkova and Naumov were among them.
Several members of the US figure skating community were also on the flight, the sport’s national governing body confirmed. They had been attending a training camp for top junior skaters following the US Championships, held last weekend in Wichita, Kansas.
"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," US Figure Skating said in a statement.
"Figure skating is more than a sport; it's a close-knit family, and we stand together," the International Skating Union (ISU) added.
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Russian figure skaters, including world champion pair Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov—winners of the 1994 world pairs title—were aboard a US passenger jet that crashed in Washington on Wednesday, according to Russian news agencies.
The aircraft, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with a military helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
Citing a source, Russia’s state news agencies TASS and RIA reported on Thursday that Shishkova and Naumov were among the passengers. Former Soviet pair skater Inna Volyanskaya was also on board, the reports added.
Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, competed at six world championships between 1991 and 1996, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals. Their crowning achievement came in 1994 when they secured the world title in Chiba, Japan.
After starting their professional careers in Russia, the duo moved to the United States, where they transitioned into coaching. Local US media reported in 1998 that they had settled in Connecticut.
On Thursday, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian citizens were aboard the plane, saying it had seen "sad reports" that Shishkova and Naumov were among them.
Several members of the US figure skating community were also on the flight, the sport’s national governing body confirmed. They had been attending a training camp for top junior skaters following the US Championships, held last weekend in Wichita, Kansas.
"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," US Figure Skating said in a statement.
"Figure skating is more than a sport; it's a close-knit family, and we stand together," the International Skating Union (ISU) added.
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