Overview
- The crash in Washington involved an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities, including three Russian nationals confirmed by Moscow.
- Evgenia Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55, were celebrated figure skaters who won the 1994 World Championship in pairs and later became coaches in the United States.
- The couple's son, Maxim Naumov, a rising figure skater, had recently competed in the U.S. National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, from where the ill-fated plane departed.
- The International Skating Union and the global figure skating community expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the sport's close-knit nature and solidarity in mourning the loss.
- A minute of silence was observed at the European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn to honor the victims, reflecting the profound impact of the tragedy on the skating world.