Washington, USA: The victims of the tragic air collision included figure skaters, their families, and coaches who had attended a prestigious national training camp for elite young skaters in Kansas.

A devastating midair collision near Washington, D.C., claimed the lives of all 64 passengers and crew aboard a flight from Wichita, Kansas, along with three soldiers on a U.S. Army helicopter. The crash resulted in a fiery explosion, leaving no survivors.

Among the victims were renowned former world champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who had been coaching young athletes in the Boston area. The figure skating community is mourning the loss of these individuals, who had dedicated their lives to the sport.

Remembering Some of the Victims:

SPENCER LANE AND JINNA HAN

Sixteen-year-old skaters Spencer Lane and Jinna Han were among the passengers on the ill-fated flight. Both were training regularly at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, according to club executive director Doug Zeghibe. Spencer's family was based in Rhode Island, while Jinna’s family resided in the Boston area.

The two young skaters had attended U.S. Figure Skating's National Development Camp in Wichita, an exclusive training event for promising athletes who had recently competed in the U.S. national championships. Zeghibe emphasized that the camp was designed for skaters who represented "the future of the sport."

“Spencer was a phenomenal talent with a unique personality,” Zeghibe shared. “He hadn’t been skating for very long but was rising rapidly in the sport. He was fun, intellectual, and always thinking ahead.”

Reports indicate that Spencer had posted a photo of the plane’s wing before takeoff, tagging Washington as the destination. In another post, he expressed gratitude to his coaches, including Shishkova and Naumov, for helping him achieve his goal of attending the elite camp.

Jinna was equally cherished in the skating community. “She was an incredible athlete and competitor, deeply loved by everyone,” Zeghibe noted.

Their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, were also on board. Zeghibe described them as dedicated parents who made immense sacrifices to support their children’s ambitions in figure skating.

January 30, 2025

YEVGENIA SHISHKOVA AND VADIM NAUMOV

Shishkova and Naumov, a married couple originally from Russia, won the 1994 World Championship in pairs figure skating. Since 2017, they have been coaching at the Skating Club of Boston, shaping the next generation of skaters.

“They were not only talented athletes but also wonderful human beings,” said Ludmila Velikova, their childhood coach from St. Petersburg. “Zhenya (Shishkova) trained with me since she was 11, and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. They were like family to me.”

Their son, Maxim Naumov, who is also a competitive skater, placed fourth in the men’s free skate at the recent U.S. national championships. Fortunately, he had already left Wichita after his event and was not on the ill-fated flight.

Zeghibe described Vadim as a coach who followed a strict "Russian method," while Shishkova was known for her resilience and strength—qualities common among female pairs of skaters. “You couldn’t see Genia without smiling,” he added fondly.

INNA VOLYANSKAYA

Inna Volyanskaya, a well-respected figure skating coach in the Washington area, was also among the victims. U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam confirmed her presence on the flight in a social media post, and Russian news agency TASS reported her passing.

Volyanskaya was a former Soviet pairs skater in the 1980s and had been coaching young athletes at the Washington Figure Skating Club. While the club refrained from confirming whether any members or coaches were on board, it expressed profound sorrow over the incident in an official statement.

The tragic accident has sent shockwaves through the figure skating community, with skaters, coaches, and fans mourning the loss of these extraordinary individuals who played a vital role in the sport's future.