Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were among the first bodies recovered from the crash site.
Highlights
- Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, renowned figure skaters from the 1990s, were among the first confirmed casualties in the plane crash.
- Their son, Maxim Naumov, a talented figure skater, is feared to have been on board the ill-fated flight.
- Rescue operations are ongoing, with at least 18 bodies recovered so far, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident.
In a tragic turn of events, the world of figure skating mourns the loss of two of its brightest stars, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.
The couple was among the first casualties identified in the wreckage of the American Airlines regional jet that crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
Vadim and Evgenia, renowned in the 1990s for their achievements in pairs figure skating, had reportedly been residing in the United States as coaches.
Their son, Maxim Naumov, also a figure skater, is feared to have been on board the ill-fated flight.
Maxim had been competing in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships prior to the accident.
❗️ Kremlin media reports that Russian national pairs figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the plane that crashed near Washington, DC
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 30, 2025
Shishkova and Naumov won the world pairs figure skating title in 1994. In 1998, they ended their athletic… pic.twitter.com/cFg92gb3g4
The Plane Was Carrying 64 Passengers And Crew Members
The crash involved a Bombardier CRJ-701 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
The collision occurred shortly before 9 p.m. as the jet was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The jet, operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 64 passengers and crew members.
The helicopter had three U.S. soldiers on board.
BREAKING NEWS:
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) January 30, 2025
A passenger jet collided midair with a black hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in a mass casualty event in Washington DC.
Just last week, Trump FIRED the heads of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Coast Guard, and… pic.twitter.com/211yDQ0I9l
Rescue operations are ongoing, with at least 18 bodies recovered so far.
The crash site, centered on the Potomac River, has posed significant challenges for rescue teams due to darkness and near-freezing temperatures.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, and all takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport have been halted to assist rescue efforts.
Vadim And Evgenia Were A Dominant Force In 1990s Russian Figure Skating
Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova were prominent figures in the figure skating world during the 1990s.
They began skating together in 1987 and quickly rose to prominence.
The duo won their first World Championship medal, a bronze, in 1993.
The following year, they clinched the gold medal at the 1994 World Championships.
They also won silver in 1995 and competed in two Winter Olympics, placing fifth in 1992 and fourth in 1994.
One of my favorite pairs programs in my early days of figure skating fandom – Evgenia Shishkova/Vadim Naumov were playful in their musicality, original in their lifts, and phenomenal in their line. They won 1994 Worlds with this fun free skate pic.twitter.com/FU4f2d8y3n
— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) March 8, 2023
After retiring from competitive skating in 1998, Naumov and Shishkova transitioned to professional skating and coaching.
They settled in Simsbury, Connecticut, where they worked at the International Skating Center before moving to the Skating Club of Boston in 2017.
The couple married in 1995 and had a son, Maxim, who followed in their footsteps to become a figure skater.
Maxim Naumov, Also A Figure Skater, Is Feared To Have Been On Board
Maxim Naumov, born in 2001, is a talented figure skater who competes for the United States.
He won the U.S. junior national championship in 2020 and has been a prominent figure in the skating community.
His presence on the flight has not been officially confirmed, but reports suggest he may have been traveling with his parents.
The Rescue And Investigation Is Ongoing
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision.
The identities of all victims have yet to be officially released, and efforts are ongoing to notify the next of kin.
The figure skating community and the public await further updates as more information becomes available.
Additional Information
- Inna Volyanskaya, a former pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1980s, was also reported to have been on board the crashed jet.
- Approximately 300 responders were on the scene as of late Wednesday night, including divers and boats searching the dark, frigid waters of the Potomac River.
- This crash marks the first major commercial airline crash in the United States since 2009.
