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The Two Darkest Days: Figure Skaters Plane Crash Tragedies That Shook The World

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The world of figure skating has been marked by two catastrophic air disasters, moments of unspeakable tragedy that decimated entire generations of athletes and coaches. As of late 2025, the community is still reeling from the most recent event, the collision of American Airlines Flight 5342, which tragically claimed the lives of nearly 30 members of the sport's family, including rising stars and decorated world champions.

The profound and sudden loss of talent, experience, and potential in these crashes has forced the U.S. Figure Skating organization and the global community to confront the fragility of life and the deep bonds that connect everyone in the sport. This article details the victims and the lasting impact of the two worst plane crashes in figure skating history, with a focus on the most recent tragedy in January 2025.

The American Airlines Flight 5342 Tragedy (January 2025)

The most recent air disaster to strike the figure skating community occurred in January 2025 when American Airlines Flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington D.C., was involved in a mid-air collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash, which was the deadliest on American soil in over two decades, claimed a total of 67 lives. A staggering 28 of the victims were figure skaters, coaches, and their family members, many of whom were returning home after competing in the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The U.S. government later admitted its role in the deadly crash, stating that U.S. Army pilots failed to "maintain vigilance," which would have allowed them to avoid the collision.

Biography of Figure Skating Community Victims on Flight 5342

The loss to the figure skating community was immense, spanning young, aspiring athletes to globally recognized coaching legends. The victims included members of The Skating Club of Boston and the Skating Club of Delaware.

  • Jinna Han (13): A rising star from Mansfield, Massachusetts, and a Korean-American figure skater with aspirations of competing in the 2032 Winter Olympics. She was a dedicated member of The Skating Club of Boston. She died alongside her mother, Jin Han.
  • Spencer Lane (16): A talented young skater from Barrington, Rhode Island, also a member of The Skating Club of Boston. He was traveling with his mother, Molly Lane, who also perished in the crash.
  • Evgenia Shishkova & Vadim Naumov: A married couple and two of the most respected coaches in the world. They were former Russian World Champions in pairs figure skating and two-time Olympians. They were integral members of The Skating Club of Boston's coaching staff.
  • Alexandr "Sasha" Kirsanov: A dedicated coach from the Skating Club of Delaware, he was traveling with two of his young students.
  • Angela Yang: A promising young skater from the Skating Club of Delaware.
  • Sean Kay: A young figure skater also representing the Skating Club of Delaware.

In total, The Skating Club of Boston alone lost six members: two skaters, their two mothers, and the two world-champion coaches.

The Unprecedented Loss of the 1961 U.S. Team

Before the 2025 tragedy, the most devastating air disaster in the history of the sport occurred on February 15, 1961. Sabena Flight 548, a Boeing 707, crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing all 73 people on board. The fatalities included the entire 18-member U.S. Figure Skating team, along with 16 coaches, officials, and family members.

The team was en route to the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The crash wiped out a generation of U.S. figure skating talent, leaving the national program in complete disarray.

Among the victims were top-tier athletes and coaches, including the reigning U.S. Ladies' Champion Laurence Owen, her sister Maribel Owen (U.S. Pairs Champion) and their mother Maribel Vinson Owen (a nine-time U.S. champion and coach), and coach Billy Kipp. The impact was so severe that the International Skating Union (ISU) was forced to cancel the 1961 World Championships.

The Figure Skating Community's Resilient Response

In both the 1961 and 2025 tragedies, the global figure skating community demonstrated remarkable unity and resilience. The aftermath of the 1961 disaster saw the creation of a memorial fund by U.S. Figure Skating, which was instrumental in rebuilding the national program and supporting future generations of athletes.

Following the 2025 American Airlines Flight 5342 crash, the community's reaction was immediate and heartfelt. Figure skaters, clubs, and organizations across the nation and the world offered an outpouring of grief and support.

  • Global Tributes: A memorial was held as part of the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships to honor the victims.
  • Athlete Solidarity: Top-level skaters, such as Ilia Malinin, shared their heartbreak, emphasizing the tight-knit nature of the sport: "The figure skating community is a family," he posted on social media.
  • Memorial Funds: The Skating Club of Boston and U.S. Figure Skating established new funds to provide financial assistance to the surviving families and to honor the dreams of the fallen athletes, particularly Jinna Han and Spencer Lane.

The recurring nature of these air tragedies—separated by over six decades—serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with global travel for elite athletes. While the 1961 crash spurred a change in how U.S. teams travel (discouraging all members from flying together), the 2025 collision was a random, devastating event that highlighted the vulnerability of commercial air travel. The collective memory of both the Sabena Flight 548 and American Airlines Flight 5342 disasters continues to inspire the community to honor the victims by fostering the growth and spirit of the sport they loved.

The Two Darkest Days: Figure Skaters Plane Crash Tragedies That Shook the World
figure skaters plane crash
figure skaters plane crash

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