Several coaches and skaters with the United States figure skating team were on the flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C., that crashed Wednesday night, according to U.S. Figure Skating.
The skaters were part of the National Development Team, a training program for top juvenile figure skaters.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” a statement by U.S. Figure Skating said.
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Some young athletes stayed in the city through Jan. 28 for the advanced training program.
Team USA pair skater Luke Wang told McClatchy News that skaters who qualified for the elite division stayed an extra day, after which Wang said several boarded American Airlines Flight 5342.
Wang and others were notified by U.S. Figure Skating via text after the crash.
“Praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,” Wang wrote on X on Wednesday night. “among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.”
Another skater, Team USA ice dancer, Ethan Peal tweeted, “I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community,” in response to the news.
U.S. Figure Skating did not immediately provide details about who from the skating community, or how many, were on the flight.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the statement reads. “We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
This is not the first plane crash that the U.S. Figure Skating organization has experienced.
In 1961, the plane carrying the U.S. team to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia crashed, killing all passengers, including the team members, officials, and family members on board.
