Determine Skaters and Politicial Figures React to DC Aircraft Crash: ‘It is Unimaginable’

On Wednesday night time, an American Airways regional jet crashed into an Military Black Hawk helicopter close to the Ronald Raegan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA). The American Eagle Flight 5342 — which was touring from Wichita, Kansas to DCA — was carrying 64 folks on board, together with a number of US determine skaters, whereas the army helicopter had three troopers on board.

As of this publishing, 27 our bodies have been recovered from the fallen airplane and one from the chopper. Nevertheless, the DC Fireplace and EMS Chief mentioned officers “do not consider there are survivors.”

The Worldwide Skating Union (ISU) issued a press release, writing that it was “deeply shocked” and “heartbroken” by the accident. In the meantime, US Determine Skating confirmed that “a number of members” of the group — together with athletes, coaches, and members of the family — misplaced their lives. Nevertheless, it didn’t launch the names of the victims.

In the meantime, the Skating Membership of Boston confirmed the names of the six folks of the membership and its group who had been on the flight. Teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their moms, Jin and Christine, respectively, together with their coaches — 1994 pairs world champions of Russia Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova — had been on board flight the American Eagle Flight 5342.

Whereas talking at a press convention on the Skating Membership of Boston on Thursday, 1994 Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan — who’s an alum of the membership — broke down in tears as she reacted to the tragic accident.

Kerrigan famous that the Boston determine skating group has “stood behind” her throughout the tough time in her profession, and now it is her “flip” to “be right here” for the group.

“I would like to have the ability to give again what I really feel like I received,” she mentioned, earlier than responding to a query about how the group can come collectively even when the game is “aggressive.”

“I feel that there is a camaraderie. We spend a whole lot of time centered on your self or your staff, should you’re a pair or dance,” she continued. “You are within the chilly — not a lot right here — however lots [of time] — hour after hour — so there’s is like this, you do not have to know everyone to really feel that connection and we have been by way of the identical factor, that coaching, that rigorous schedule of falling again and again and by some means selecting your self again up, which is like the primary lesson I feel realized in skating is you get again up.”

“Carry on making an attempt and even when it is exhausting, you get again up,” Kerrigan added. “Even once you’re crying, harm, [in] ache, you get again up, and transfer ahead.”

In the meantime, former determine skater and Kerrigan’s notorious rival Tanya Harding — who simply joined X on Wednesday night time — issued a press release on the platform, writing, “The occasions that came about final night time in Washington, DC are completely devastating. I am being advised that a number of skilled determine skaters had been aboard the flight as properly. Sending my love and prayers to all of the victims and their households.”

1998 Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski mourned the losses in a press release shared to her Instagram Tales. “My coronary heart is damaged for our skating group,” she wrote. “It is unimaginable the loss. We’ll mourn their loss and ALWAYS bear in mind them. My coronary heart is with all of the households affected — that half I’ve no phrases for.”

“‘Energy’ and ‘Love’ will not do it justice. So a lot of our personal had been on this tragic flight and my coronary heart aches for them and for everybody a part of this devastating accident,” she added.

Two-time Olympian Johnny Weir — and Lipinski’s shut good friend — additionally shared a submit on his Tales, writing, “I am praying for everybody affected by this tragic accident. Members of our skating household had been on that flight returning house from Nationals in Wichita. We mourn their loss and pray for his or her households and family members.”

Determine skating skilled Jackie Wong, in the meantime, posted a touching assertion on X following the tragedy. “The skating group is small – lots of people know one another or know of one another,” he wrote. “What occurred final night time was devastating. Please hold the households and family members of all concerned in your ideas. Be good to at least one one other.”

Olympic alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin additionally took to X to react to the horrific crash. “My coronary heart goes out to your entire determine skating group after the tragic and devastating loss,” she mentioned.

In the meantime, President Donald Trump issued a press release on his Reality Social, writing, “The airplane was on an ideal and routine line of method to the airport. The helicopter was going straight on the airplane for an prolonged time frame. It’s a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the airplane had been blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or flip. Why didn’t the management tower inform the helicopter what to do as an alternative of asking in the event that they noticed the airplane.”

“It is a dangerous scenario that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!,” he concluded.

Throughout a press convention on Thursday morning, Trump blamed range, fairness and inclusion applications, or DEI, for the tragic accident, whereas additionally noting that “we have no idea what led to this crash, however we have now very robust opinions.”

When a reporter requested why he got here “to the conclusion that range” was concerned, he mentioned, “As a result of I’ve widespread sense and sadly lots of people do not.”

Trump additionally referred to as former President Joe Biden’s Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, “bulls–t.”

Biden, in the meantime, shared a press release on X within the wake of the crash, writing, “Jill and I are praying for the households of the victims who tragically misplaced their lives within the airplane and helicopter crash close to DCA. We’re immensely grateful to the courageous first responders and emergency personnel on the scene.”

Former President Barack Obama additionally expressed his condolences.

“Our hearts break for the households who misplaced family members within the tragic airplane and helicopter crash at DCA,” he wrote on X. “Michelle and I ship our prayers and condolences to everybody who’s mourning immediately, and we’re grateful to the primary responders who’re doing all the pieces they’ll to assist beneath extraordinarily tough circumstances.”

See different reactions from politicians and politician figures within the posts beneath.