The American artistic skating community continues to stagger after the tragic American Airlines accident in Washington DC, with multiple skaters, their parents and their coaches aboard the flight.
Of the 60 passengers aboard the 5342 flight of American Airlines, 14 of them were artistic skaters, including six members of the Boston skating club that returned from a national development camp in Wichita.
The NBC emitters and former figurative skaters Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski transmitted the 2025 artistic skating championship in Tallin, Estonia, on Thursday when they approached the incident.
A drowning weir began the transmission: 'In the air in the air for the European artistic skating championships, we are all suffering today. The news absolutely broke us that several members of our skating community were among those lost in the tragic plane crash in Washington, DC last night.
Then, Weir proceeded to read statements of the American artistic skating, the International Skating Union and a word of the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach.
Lipinski then spoke through sobs, qualifying the “unimaginable” situation.
The NBC Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir announcers broke in the air while reading tributes to the victims of the DC air accident while covering the European artistic skating championship
A recovery team brings out the remains of American Airlines flight 5342 from the Potomac River
“My heart is completely broken to our skating community, their families and loved ones. My heart is with all affected families and that is the part for which I have no words. It will not do justice,” he said, and added that ” “The skating community will never be the same”, but the victims will always be remembered.
Weir added that they were determined to “ensure that everyone's spirit of all” and that it was “a tremendous loss that our community feels.”
He added: 'Today, all my heart is with all those affected by this terrible tragedy. We are so devastated by your loss.
In the championships, a long moment of silence was held in memory of those who lost their lives.
Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Boston skating club, confirmed the names of the club members on board.
Two teenagers, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, and their coaches, Shishkova and Vadim Naumov even.
Shiskova and Naumov were consummated Russian skaters who had won multiple medals in skating couples in the 1990s.
That included gold in the 1995 World Championship in Chiba, Japan and Gold in the skating grand prize held in Paris for the 1995-96 season.
The American skating hero Nancy Kerrigan broke into a press conference in Boston
Skater Figure, Spencer Lane, 16, (Middle Backup) next to the Russian couple Evgenia Shishkova, (middle front) 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, (right) have been confirmed as passengers
Other prominent members of the American community skating community also expressed their condolences and pain.
The former Olympic silver medalist, Nancy Kerrigan, native to Massachusetts, broke into tears and said she was awake all night watching the news after learning of those who were on the flight.
Kerrigan's ice rival, Tonya Harding, also talked about the incident and said she was “devastated.”
Professional sports teams in the DC area: Washington, Wizards, National and DC United commanders, all published condolences in their social media pages.
The same was done by Boston's professional sports teams: the New England patriots, Boston Bruinsand Red Boston socks – as well as multiple teams of the National Hockey League.
An investigation into the accident is underway. President Donald Trump approached the incident several times in several press events on Thursday.