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Russian figure skaters reportedly among passengers in Washington D.C. plane crash

Source: Sports.ru

Russian ice skating coaches and former figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were aboard the American Airlines flight that crashed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, according to Russian state media.

Their son Maxim Naumov, who competes for the U.S. national figure skating team, was also believed to be on board, the Telegram channel Shot reported.

Sports agent Ari Zakarian told Russian sports channel Match TV that Russian figure skaters were among the passengers. “Our people were on the flight. I don’t want to name names, but there were Russians on board,” he said.

American figure skater Luka Wang also reported that coaches and skaters were on the crashed flight.

Another U.S. figure skater, Jon Maravilla, told RIA Novosti that at least 14 skaters were on board, not including coaches and family members.

The Telegram channel Mash, without citing a source, reported that most of the skaters believed to have been on board were “children of Russian emigrants.” Mash also shared a list of 13 athletes allegedly on the flight, though its authenticity has not been confirmed.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several skaters were among the passengers. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the body said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

The January 29 crash occurred when an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport. There were reportedly 64 people aboard the plane and three soldiers in the helicopter. Rescuers were unable to find any survivors in the hours following the crash.

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