Team USA Figuring Skating Members Reported To Be Aboard Plan That Collided With Chopper

This is the kind of tragedy that just leaves you stunned. The world of figure skating has been shaken to its core after a devastating mid-air collision over the Potomac River claimed the lives of six members of the Skating Club of Boston—including two rising athletes, two legendary coaches, and two dedicated parents.

Officials have confirmed there were no survivors from the crash, with nearly 30 bodies pulled from the freezing waters. What was once a desperate search-and-rescue effort has now turned into a heartbreaking recovery mission.

The victims with ties to the Skating Club of Boston were:

  • Jinna Han, a promising young athlete
  • Spencer Lane, another rising star in the sport
  • Vadim Naumov, a former world champion and coach
  • Evgenia Shishkova, an Olympic pairs skater and coach
  • Jin Han, Jinna’s mother
  • Molly Lane, Spencer’s mother

Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, put into words what so many in the figure skating community are feeling:

“Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy. Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family.”

And that’s what makes this loss so devastating. These weren’t just names on a list—these were mentors, friends, teammates, and loved ones.

Jinna and Spencer were just kids—young athletes returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, a program designed to train future champions. They had their whole careers ahead of them. Their mothers, Jin and Molly, were traveling with them, supporting their children as skating parents do—dedicating endless time, energy, and love to their kids’ dreams.

Then there were Naumov and Shishkova, a legendary Russian pairs team who had built a second career in the U.S. as beloved coaches. Their resume was nothing short of remarkable—World Champions in 1994, two-time Olympians, and role models to countless young skaters.As news of the crash spread, the figure skating community was united in grief.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that members of its organization were aboard, releasing a statement that read in part:

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”

The International Skating Union echoed that heartbreak, calling the crash “deeply shocking” and emphasizing that “figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family.”

And that’s exactly what it is.

Figure skating isn’t just about medals and competitions—it’s about the early-morning practices, the endless hours of training, the friendships forged through dedication and sacrifice. It’s a world where coaches become mentors, parents become second families, and young athletes grow up together.

That’s what makes this loss so deeply personal.