The main figures of the United States and Russia were on board The American Airlines flight that crashed Late in Wednesday night on the Potomac River in Washington, DC, after colliding with a military helicopter.
The artistic skating of the United States, the organization that serves as the National Sports Government body, confirmed that the passengers of the plane included several of its members, which had attended a prestigious training field for rookie and intermediate skaters in Wichita , Kansas, where the flight took off.
“These athletes, coaches and relatives returned home from the National Development Camp held together with the United States artistic skating championships in Wichita, Kansas,” said the American artistic skating in a statement. “We are devastated by this indescribable tragedy and keep close to the families of the victims in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and disseminate more information as it is available.”
At a press conference on Thursday, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said “it was really an honor” for her city to organize the artistic skating championship for the first time.
“We were very excited to have the opportunity to organize the National Championship,” Wu told reporters. “Even yesterday, people told me how wonderful these last days have been with additional people who came to our community to see or participate.”
Wichita officials are waiting for more information about the accident, including the details of the artistic skating of the United States, Wu said. Alex Schauffler, a representative of the artistic skaters of the United States, told CBS News that the organization could not share additional details on early Wednesday.
None of the American skaters, their coaches or relatives have been officially identified, but the Boston skating club said that two young skaters, their mothers and two coaches were among the passengers, CBS News Boston reported. In a statement, Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the skating club, identified the club members on the plane such as Jinna Han, Jin Han, Spencer Lane, Christine Lane, Vadim Naumov and Shishkova Evgenia.
Shishkova and Naumov are artistic skaters born in Russian and former world champions who trained at the Boston skating club, the club said. They were on the plane along with other Russian citizens, the country’s state news agency Tassel He informed, citing an unidentified source and a government official.
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“The bad news came from Washington today. We feel sorry and express our condolences to the families and friends who lost [their loved ones] And Russian citizens among those killed in the aviation tragedy, “said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a news conference, according to Tass.
American Eagle Flight No. 5342, a passenger plane operated by PSA Airlines and owned by American, He crashed in the air with a black hawk helicopter Near its landing site planned at the Reagan National Airport, which makes both subsequently crash on the Potomac River below. The plane transported 60 passengers and four crew members, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, authorities said. Based in Fort Belvoir in Virginia, the helicopter was on a training flight when he hit the plane.
At least 28 bodies had been recovered from the river at 8 am et on Thursday, said the head of DC and EMS Chief John Donnelly to journalists. Donnelly added: “We do not believe there are survivors.”
An investigation into the collision is underway. A source of application of the law familiar with the probe told CBS News that it focuses on “why the helicopter flew in that place and altitude at that time.”
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