Tragedy: Athletes, coaches killed in US airport plane collision
Abdulgafar Oladimeji with agency reports
Figure skaters and their coaches were amongst of the 60 passengers aboard the plane involved in the late night collision between an US army helicopter and American Airlines jet.
The athletes and their coaches were returning from an engagement, when the incidence occurred.
New York Daily reported that “ The athletes were among 60 passengers and four crewmembers aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 when the crash happened in Washington, D.C. just after 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Adding that “Traveling at a height of around 400 feet and a speed of 140 miles per hour at the time, the plane experienced a sudden loss of altitude just as a Black Hawk Army Helicopter crossed directly into its flight path, not far from Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Hundreds of first responders arrived at the scene despite the harsh weather conditions , reports indicate that rescue search is still on going , 28 bodies have been so far recovered by the brave responders .
Doug Zeghibe, CEO Boston Skating club told journalists that “to the best of our knowledge, 14 skaters returning home” from the U.S. Figure Skating National Championships in Wichita, Kansas, were killed in the Wednesday, January 29, crash.
According to him, the Skating Club of Boston had 18 athletes sent to compete at the National Championships in Wichita.
IZeghibe said that six members of the Club’s community had been killed in the crash: revealing that 16-year-old figure skaters Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their respective mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evengenia Shishkova were involved.
