Tragedy in Washington: Russian figure skaters Shishkova and Naumov died
30 january 2025 в 17:13
American Airlines flight #5432 was flying towards Reagan National Airport from Wichita, Kansas, on January 29, 2025, and collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington. The collision in the Potomac River claimed the lives of several passengers on board, including Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The US Figure Skating Federation also confirmed that there were several unidentified American figure skaters on board.
The International Skating Union (ISU) released a statement expressing deep shock upon learning about the tragedy.
«We are saddened to learn that figure skaters, as well as their families, friends, and coaches, were presumably on board», - the ISU statement read. «Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is not just a sport, it is a close-knit community, and we stand together. We remain in contact with the US Figure Skating Federation and offer them all our support in this incredibly difficult moment».
Learn more about Shishkova and Naumov, their careers in figure skating, and the tragic plane crash below.
Two Russian figure skaters were confirmed to be on board American Airlines flight #5432 on January 29, 2025. Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated: «There were other compatriots of ours there. Bad news from Washington today. We express our condolences to the families and friends of those compatriots of ours who died in the plane crash», - ESPN reports.
Shishkova and Naumov were a famous pair in the world of figure skating. Meeting in 1985, they began performing together in 1987. The couple were world champions in 1994 and competed in the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the same year, finishing fourth. Later, Shishkova and Naumov became coaches and moved to Connecticut to raise their son, Maxim Naumov, who followed in his parents' footsteps, competing in this sport.
Naumov was 55 years old, and Shishkova was 52 years old when they died.
District of Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief John Donnelly told the press on January 30, 2025, that «we do not believe there are any survivors» out of the 64 people on board. At the time of publication, 27 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage.
The US Figure Skating Federation confirmed in a public statement that American figure skaters died in the plane crash. However, at the time of publication, the names had not been released.
«The US Figure Skating Federation confirms that several members of our figure skating community, unfortunately, were on board American Airlines flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, DC», - the statement quoted by ESPN read. «We are shaken by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the families of the victims close to our hearts»
The International Skating Union (ISU) released a statement expressing deep shock upon learning about the tragedy.
«We are saddened to learn that figure skaters, as well as their families, friends, and coaches, were presumably on board», - the ISU statement read. «Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is not just a sport, it is a close-knit community, and we stand together. We remain in contact with the US Figure Skating Federation and offer them all our support in this incredibly difficult moment».
Learn more about Shishkova and Naumov, their careers in figure skating, and the tragic plane crash below.
Two Russian figure skaters were confirmed to be on board American Airlines flight #5432 on January 29, 2025. Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated: «There were other compatriots of ours there. Bad news from Washington today. We express our condolences to the families and friends of those compatriots of ours who died in the plane crash», - ESPN reports.
Shishkova and Naumov were a famous pair in the world of figure skating. Meeting in 1985, they began performing together in 1987. The couple were world champions in 1994 and competed in the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the same year, finishing fourth. Later, Shishkova and Naumov became coaches and moved to Connecticut to raise their son, Maxim Naumov, who followed in his parents' footsteps, competing in this sport.
Naumov was 55 years old, and Shishkova was 52 years old when they died.
District of Columbia Fire and Rescue Chief John Donnelly told the press on January 30, 2025, that «we do not believe there are any survivors» out of the 64 people on board. At the time of publication, 27 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage.
The US Figure Skating Federation confirmed in a public statement that American figure skaters died in the plane crash. However, at the time of publication, the names had not been released.
«The US Figure Skating Federation confirms that several members of our figure skating community, unfortunately, were on board American Airlines flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, DC», - the statement quoted by ESPN read. «We are shaken by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the families of the victims close to our hearts»
© Smirnova Olga
