What we know
- A regional jet carry 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter in midair near Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday.
- The two aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, where a massive rescue operation is underway with at least 12 bodies recovered so far, NBC Washington reported.
- American Eagle Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, parent company American Airlines said.
- The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved was carrying three people, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
- American figure skaters, coaches and family members who had been at camp in Wichita were among the passenger jet passengers, according to U.S. Figure Skating.
- Russian state media confirmed that Russian figure skaters and coaches were also on board.
FIGURE skaters including children were onboard the crashed American Airlines plane that plunged into a river.
Among the passengers there were reportedly champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
The plane plunged into Potomac River in Washington DC after colliding with a US Army helicopter just before 9pm.
Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing in 1995Credit: Getty
Emergency crews at the sceneCredit: Getty
American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter
Credit: EPA
Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River
Credit: Getty
The duo won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994
Credit: Getty
Emergency services operate at Gravelly Point
Credit: Reuters
USA Figure Skating said several members of its skating community were also on board.
It said that the athletes, coaches and relatives were travelling back home from a development camp held in Wichita, Kansas.
It said: “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.”
The skaters were a part of the National Development Team and had competed at the US Figure Skating Championships that was held between January 20 to 26 in Wichita, Kansas.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russian nationals were onboard the plane.
He said: “Bad news from Washington today. We regret and offer condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash.”
