A tragic plane crash near Washington, DC, claimed 64 lives, including beloved Disney performer Inna Volyanskaya and several figure skaters.
Washington, DC: A tragic plane crash happened on Wednesday night. An American Airlines jet collided with a US Army helicopter over the Potomac River. Sadly, all 64 people on board both aircraft lost their lives.
The crash occurred around 9 PM local time. Flight 5342 had just taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was heading to Ronald Reagan National Airport. The helicopter was a Sikorsky H-60 from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on a training mission.
Recovery teams have found at least 30 bodies in the icy river. Among the victims were several figure skaters, including Inna Volyanskaya, a former Disney on Ice performer. She was well-known for her roles as Princess Aurora and Cinderella.
Virginia Representative Suhas Subramanyam confirmed that none of the 67 people survived. Volyanskaya was a beloved ice skating coach in Ashburn, Virginia. Her former husband praised her talent and the impact she had on young skaters.
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that many skaters and coaches were returning from a national camp when the crash occurred. Family members of the victims are mourning their loss, including pilot Sam Lilley, whose father shared his heartbreak.
Ryan O’Hara, another victim, left behind a spouse and a one-year-old child. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but officials noted the helicopter was on a training mission.
Army aviation officials stated that the Black Hawk crew had significant experience flying in the area. They were familiar with the route and conditions, making the crash even more puzzling.
In a controversial statement, former President Donald Trump suggested that diversity hiring in air traffic control might have contributed to the crash. He claimed the FAA was hiring people with disabilities for air traffic control roles, but this assertion lacked evidence.
