WASHINGTON — Officials said that all on board the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter from Fort Belvoir army base were killed when the helicopter collided.
There were 64 people on board the plane, a Bombardier CRJ-701-twin engine aircraft, while three soldiers were on the UH-60 helicopter, The Associated Press reported.
Within about 12 hours after the crash, at least 28 bodies were pulled from the Potomac River. Crews continued searching for victims in what started as a rescue mission but turned into a recovery mission on Thursday morning. Twenty-seven of those recovered were from the American Airlines plane while one was from the helicopter, the AP reported.
The American Airlines plane’s fuselage was found inverted and broken into three pieces in waist-deep water, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during a morning news conference. The helicopter wreckage was also found.
Here is what we know about the victims.
Several members of the U.S. Figure Skating Association were on Flight 5342, the organization confirmed.
The association released a statement, WFXT reported.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available,” officials said.
The skaters were from the Skating Club of Boston and included the skaters, coaches and family members who were at a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championship.
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were two of the coaches killed in the crash. They won the 1994 World Championships for pairs skating and competed in the Olympics twice. They were married. Russian media confirmed they were on the flight and a spokesman for the Russian president sent condolences to the family and friends of those killed, ABC News reported.
Jinna Han, Spencer Lane, Jin Han, Christine Lane
Two teens were also killed along with their parents, skating club CEO Doug Zeghibe said.
He identified them as skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, the AP reported.
Han’s mother Jin Han and Lane’s mother Christine Lane were also killed, CNN reported.
“I don’t know what the word is, wrecked, devastated. Folks are just stunned by this,” Zeghibe said, according to the AP. “They are like family to us.”
This is not the first time the skating community has been touched by a plane crash. A crash in Belgium in 1961 killed all 18 members of the American skating team en route to the world championship were killed. Zeghibe said the skating world had just recently come out of the shadow of that incident, the AP reported.
Inna Volyanskaya
Inna Volyanskaya’s death was confirmed by Rep. Suhas Subramanym, WRC reported. Volyanskaya lived in Ashburn, Virginia and was a skating coach for Ashburn Ice House.
Ryan O’Hara
Ryan O’Hara was a soldier on board the Black Hawk helicopter. His death was confirmed by Parkview High School ROTC, which said he was the crew chief on the flight, WSB reported.
Samuel Lilley
American Airlines Flight 5342 first officer was identified as Samuel Lilley, CNN reported. His father confirmed Lilley’s death.
“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” Timothy Lilley said on Facebook, according to CNN. “Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.”
Timothy Lilley was a helicopter pilot for 20 years.
The younger Lilley was engaged and was planning to get married in the fall.
Ian Epstein
The flight crew was based in Charlotte, North Carolina, WSOC reported. One of the crewmembers was identified by family members as Ian Epstein.
Jonathan Campos
A colleague has identified the American Flight 5342 captain as Jonathan Campos, CNN reported. The coworker said Campos has been a captain at the company since 2022.
Union members
Four union members from UA Steamfitters Local 602 were on the flight, the union confirmed. Their names have not been released, WRC reported.
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