Teen skater among missing after plane-helicopter crash
Seventeen-year-old skater Spencer Lane was on board an American Airlines passenger plane that collided with a helicopter in Washington, D.C. Just before the flight, he posted a photo on Instagram. His coaches, Yevgeniya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on board.
The tragic events occurred near the airport in Washington, D.C., where an American Airlines passenger plane collided with a military helicopter. The aircraft fell into the Potomac River, and there were 64 people on board, including Russian athletes. Three military personnel were traveling in the helicopter. American media reports that rescue services have already found 28 bodies, and the rescue operation is still ongoing.
Among the missing are well-known figure skaters, including world champions Yevgeniya Shishkova, Vadim Naumov, and their son Maksim. On board the aircraft was 17-year-old skater Spencer Lane, who posted a photo from Wichita airport just before takeoff.
17-year-old posted a photo from the plane that crashed in Washington
Spencer Lane trained under the guidance of world champions. The list of crash victims is regularly updated, but the fate of the 17-year-old and his coaches is still unknown. Annabel Morozov, a former Russian figure skater, was also involved in the disaster.
The U.S. Figure Skating Association confirmed that its members were on board the plane. The skaters were returning from the U.S. Championships in Wichita. Just a few hours before the crash, they thanked fans for their support on social media. The race against time continues to find the remaining victims.
A preliminary report on the crash will be available within a month. Controllers should have ensured proper separation between aircraft. The presence of a military helicopter in the landing zone raises doubts, which could have contributed to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, General Waldemar Skrzypczak pointed out errors in the flight management system. The Black Hawk should not have been in the landing zone. The helicopter pilot had the opportunity to avoid the collision but did not react in time. Collision warning systems also failed.
