An American artistic skater that was said to be among the victims of the Washington plane disaster has revealed that he was never aboard the flight first.
Anton Spiridonov published on Instagram on Thursday morning: 'The Russian media have included me in a list of alleged people on Wichita's flight to Washington DC I was not on this flight, thanks for everyone's concern for my safety. My heart is with all the families affected by this tragedy.
All aboard an American Airlines plane that transports 60 passengers and four members of the Wichita airport crew in Kansas that collided with an army helicopter was feared.
It occurs after Spencer Lane, a member of the artistic skating team of the United States, shared a photo from inside the convicted American Airlines plane shortly before he crashed.
The 26 -year -old uploaded the photo around 7pm et on Wednesday, which seemed to show the plane filming on the track at Wichita airport in Kansas before he took off for his final flight.
He subtitled -> DCA – The codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and National Airport Ronald Reagan Washington.
Anton Spiridonov published on Instagram that he was not on the plane that crashed in Washington
Spiridonov cited 'Russian media' that included it in an alleged passenger list
Other elite members of the American artistic skating team that was expected in the next winter Olympic Games were also aboard the plane, a Crj700 Bombardier.
They returned home in the DC area after attending a national development camp for young skaters in Wichita, Kansas.
The figurative skaters Russians Yevenia Skhiskhkova and Vadim Naumov, who mentioned the lane, also believes they were on the plane.
The figurative skater of his team USA. They are Maxim 23, was in the Wichita camp, although it is not clear if it was also on the fateful flight.
At least 28 bodies were taken from the frozen waters of the Potomac River after collision in the air on Wednesday night when the helicopter apparently flew on the road to the plane while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington.
The teams were still looking for other victims, but did not believe there were survivors, which would make him the most fatal American plane crash in almost 24 years.
“Now we are at the point where we are changing a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the capital of the nation. “We don't believe there are survivors.”
There was no immediate word about the cause of the collision, but the officials said that the flight conditions were clear since the plane came from Wichita, Kansas, with the American artistic skaters and Russians and others on board, it was making an landing of Routine when the helicopter flew to its path.
Surveillance images taken from inside the airport also captured at the time the two collided in the air
Rescue boats Search in the waters of the Potomac River for survivors after the mortal plane accident
Emergency response equipment is seen at the accident scene on the Potomac River
The plane was being operated as an American Eagle flight by PSA Airlines for its matrix American Airlines carrier
Passengers on Wednesday's flight included a group of artistic skatersIts coaches and family members returned from a development camp that followed the United States artistic skating championship in Wichita.
“We are devastated by this indescribable tragedy and maintain the families of the victims closely in our hearts,” said the standard figurative in a statement.
Two of those coaches were identified by the Kremlin as skaters of Russian figures Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won the title of couples in the 1994 World Championship and competed twice in the Olympic Games.
The Boston skating club lists them as coaches and their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figurative skater for the United States
The body of the plane was found upside down in three sections in water to the waist. The remains of the helicopter were also found.
Donnelly said the first to respond on Thursday were looking in an area of the Potomac River to the south of the Woodrow Wilson bridge, approximately 3 miles south of the airport.
More to follow.