U.S. figure skating community mourns victims of tragic plane crash
Young figure skaters and coaches among those lost in deadly collision over Potomac River.
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| Illustration by Luigi Masella |
By Randy Ahmad and Widya Lestari
The U.S. figure skating community is reeling after a tragic plane crash claimed the lives of several young skaters, their coaches, and parents. The victims were returning home from a national development camp in Wichita, Kansas, when their flight, American Airlines Flight 5342, collided with a U.S. Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River. Officials confirmed Thursday that none of the 64 passengers aboard the plane or the three people in the helicopter survived.
The development camp, held after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, was a key training opportunity for junior, intermediate, and novice skaters with the potential to advance to the senior level. Among those lost were six individuals affiliated with The Skating Club of Boston, including two teenage skaters, their parents, and two coaches.
U.S. Figure Skating issued a statement acknowledging the devastating loss, confirming that "several members of our skating community" were on the flight. As families and friends grieve, tributes have poured in for those lost in the tragedy.
Rising star Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine
Spencer Lane, a 16-year-old figure skater from The Skating Club of Boston, was among the victims. He had rapidly ascended in the sport, qualifying for the national development camp after winning the intermediate division at the Eastern sectionals in November.
Spencer frequently shared his skating journey on social media, recently posting videos from the camp in Wichita. In a post reflecting on his success, he wrote, “When I started this season, I had what seemed like a very ambitious goal of making Top 4 at Sectionals, and I am so happy and blown away to end my first competitive season at the top of the Eastern Sectionals podium!”
His mother, Christine Lane, was also on the flight. The family, who lived outside of Providence, Rhode Island, made frequent trips to Norwood, Massachusetts, for Spencer’s training.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO of The Skating Club of Boston, described Spencer as a "young phenom."
“Spencer, in the best way possible, was a crazy kid. Highly talented, incredibly gifted,” Zeghibe said. “He hadn’t been skating long but was already rocketing to the top of the sport. Very fun, very cerebral, a deep thinker.”
Spencer’s father, Douglas Lane, told Providence television station WPRI that his son was adopted from South Korea and found his passion for figure skating after watching Nathan Chen win Olympic gold in 2022.
“He decided, ‘Hey, I could do that,’” Lane said. “Nobody pushed him. He just loved it, had natural talent, and worked at it every single day.”
He described Christine as a “beautiful, creative person” who excelled in graphic design and photography.
“Just a wonderful, caring person,” he said.
Jinna Han and her mother, Jin
Another promising young skater, Jinna Han, was also on the flight. She earned her spot at the development camp after placing fourth in the novice division at Eastern sectionals in November.
“Jinna was just a wonderful kid,” Zeghibe said. “Wonderful parents. A great athlete, a fierce competitor, and loved by all.”
Her mother, Jin Han, was traveling with her. The Han family had been active members of The Skating Club of Boston since its facility opened in 2020.
“They were part of our family,” Zeghibe said.
Former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
The crash also claimed the lives of legendary figure skaters and coaches Evgenia Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55. The Russian-born pair won gold at the 1994 World Championships and competed in two Olympics, placing fifth in 1992 and fourth in 1994.
They moved to the United States in 1998 and became coaches at The Skating Club of Boston in 2017, playing a key role in developing the club’s competitive program.
“They were instrumental in shaping our skaters,” Zeghibe said.
Their son, Maxim Naumov, who was not on the flight, is a U.S. national-level skater. He finished fourth in the senior competition at last weekend’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Longtime friend and fellow former skater Elena Prudsky, who now lives in Houston, recalled their humble nature despite their fame.
“They loved being recognized as champions in Russia, but here in the U.S., they could just be themselves,” she said. “I am in shock. It doesn’t seem real that they are gone.”
Coach Alexandr Kirsanov and his students
Alexandr Kirsanov, a respected figure skating coach at the High Performance Figure Skating Center at the University of Delaware, also perished in the crash. He previously competed internationally before transitioning to coaching.
Kirsanov was attending the development camp as the coach of Sean Kay and Angela Yang, two young skaters who also lost their lives in the accident.
“I lost everything,” Kirsanov’s wife, Natalya Gudin, told ABC News. “I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends.”
Promising skaters Sean Kay and Angela Yang
Sean Kay, a rising skater with the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, had recently made a name for himself in competition. In September 2023, he finished second in the National Qualifying Series (NQS), a pathway to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Angela Yang, also a University of Delaware skater, discovered her love for ice dance after initially playing hockey like her siblings.
“I realized that my skill for ice dancing would far surpass my hockey ability, so I committed to ice dance,” Yang said in a club spotlight last fall.
Her favorite program, she said, was her "Intermediate Beyoncé free dance."
A heartbreaking loss for U.S. figure skating
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the figure skating world, with athletes, coaches, and officials mourning the loss of such promising talents and respected mentors.
Delaware Senator Chris Coons addressed the crash in a statement, recognizing the deep loss felt across the skating community.
“Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay, and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their passion for figure skating,” he wrote. “It is a tragedy that none of them returned home. Delaware is a state of neighbors, and tonight we hold all of our neighbors a little closer.”
As families, friends, and the figure skating community come together in grief, they also remember the dreams and legacies of those lost. From young skaters with Olympic aspirations to coaches who shaped generations of talent, their impact on the sport will not be forgotten.
