AA plane crash
Russia in mourning after American Airlines plane crash with the deaths of these two world champion skaters
Several figures skaters, both from Russia and the United States, are reported to have been on the plane that collided with a helicopter in Washington.

Several Russian figure skaters and coaches were among the passengers on the American Airlines commercial plane that collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC, according to Russian media reports on Thursday.
“Inna Volianskaya, a bronze medalist in pairs figure skating at the 1980 Soviet Union Championships, was among the passengers on the crashed plane in Washington,” reported Russian state news agency TASS, citing sources.
Additionally, Telegram channel Shot noted that Russian skater Vadim Naumov was also on the ill-fated flight.
Sports agent Ari Zakarian told Match TV that several Russian athletes were on the plane. “I don’t want to mention names, but there were several of our people on board,” he said.
Former Russian skaters turned coaches in the US
The Kremlin, however, has stated that both Naumov and his wife, Evgenia Shishkova, were on the plane. The two former Russian skaters, who were crowned world champions in 1994, moved to the United States in 1998 after getting married.
They opened a skating school and have since been coaching with US Figure Skating. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is part of the team, and may also have been on the plane, although that has yet to be confirmed.
US Figure Skating revealed a statement on Thursday saying athletes, coaches and family members were returning from a national development camp in Kansas: “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts”.
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