Source Credit: Okaz Newspaper
Summary
- According to the nation's governing body for the sport, members of the American figure skating community were on board an aircraft that crashed close to Washington, DC.
- The plan that crashed had athletes, coaches, and family members.
- It was reported by a police officer on the scene that 19 bodies had been recovered from the water.
The sports world is in sorrow following a deadly mid-air accident over the Potomac River near Washington, DC American Airlines Flight, which was carrying 64 passengers and crew members, crashed into the freezing Potomac River on January 29, 2025, after colliding with an Army Black Hawk chopper.
John Donnelly, the chief of DC Fire stated "We don't believe there are any survivors from this accident," "We were shocked to hear that figure skaters, as well as their families, friends, and coaches, are believed to be among those on board," the international skating union stated.
US Figure Skating released a statement expressing grief and giving condolences to the victims' families, demonstrating the shockwaves the tragedy has caused within the figure skating community.
Athletes and former Team USA Olympians have also expressed their sympathies on the internet. The reason for the tragedy is still being investigated, and it is the first significant commercial aviation disaster to occur in the United States since 2009.
To show respect for everyone involved in the tragedy, a minute's silence took place before Thursday's ISU Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
In response, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have emphasized the close connection and collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the United States by expressing their sincere condolences to the American people and the families of the victims.
This act demonstrates the outpouring of sympathy and solidarity that followed the horrific incident on a global scale.
