- A memorial vigil was held at the Ice House in Hackensack, New Jersey to honor the lives lost in the plane crash near Washington D.C.
- The plane crash involved a passenger plane and a U.S. Army helicopter, resulting in 67 fatalities.
- Among the victims were young figure skaters, their coaches, and parents returning from a National Development Camp.
The tight-knit New Jersey ice skating community mourned together in an emotional memorial vigil held at the Ice House in Hackensack on Monday afternoon that honored the lives lost in the plane crash near Washington D.C.
Ice skaters gathered together in the middle of the ice rink holding flowers and candles to remember the 67 people who died on Wednesday when a passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army helicopter. Among those on board were young ice skaters traveling with their coaches and parents from a Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.
Everyone from children to the adults at the rink let their emotions show with nearly every pair of eyes in the room filled with tears.
Craig Maurizi, the director of figure skating at the Ice House, started the ceremony by thanking the crowd for paying their respects. He then read off the names of the ice skaters who tragically died in the plane crash last week.
“As skaters, we are all choreographers, we are all planners. However, we are all trained to know how to react when we fall down. It is the ability get up and keep going with the support of our coaches, family, friends and teammates that we all have in common. May their memory be a blessing,” said Maurirzi, which was followed by a moment of silence.
Some leaned on each other. Some hugged while crying. Others reflected without moving a muscle. In the heartbreaking, yet inspiring scene, Mauirzi kept positivity in his voice among the grief.
“Together we will turn this setback into our comeback. Because that’s what champions do. And make no mistake, you are champions in the making,” he said. “Tomorrow brings new opportunities and we’ll bring them with greater wisdom and stronger determination.”
Maurizi knew all four of the figure skating coaches who were aboard Flight 5342 that crashed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He said he’s participated in events with them for over 20 years. He called them all experienced and excellent coaches.
“My wife told me the news there was a plane crash from a flight from Wichita. And I thought to myself, what are the chances? We kept looking online and got confirmation. Its awful,” said the ice skating director.
The tragedy felt even more surreal to some at the vigil. Rachel Ye, with tears still lingering in eyes, said her 11-year-old son, Tobby, was at the same Wichita ice skating camp that the victims of the plane crash attended.
Tobby and his father traveled back from the camp on a flight to Atlanta before arriving home in New York City.
“At school, my teachers told me a plane had crashed, but I didn’t know it was all the skaters. I got home and my dad told me about it. It was really shocking and depressing,” said Tobby.
He described his fellow skaters as hard-working with potential. “I felt bad for them. I’ve been skating for six years. That’s where most of my friends come from.”
“I couldn’t believe that happened. I thought the ceremony was a great way for everyone to release their emotions,” said the mother.
Tobby will continue to follow his passion in figure skating, and hopes to one day to make nationals.
Maurizi plans to organize fundraising efforts to help support those within the ice skating community who lost their loved ones in the tragic plane crash. While not confirmed yet, the director is thinking about collecting cash donations at the Ice House in Hackensack next week that will go towards those families. He is also looking to coordinate a GoFundMe.
Figure skaters killed in plane crash
American Airlines Flight 5342 departed from Wichita and was preparing to land at Reagan Airport when it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday evening, leaving 67 people dead with no survivors.
The crash destroyed both aircrafts, as the remains from the flights plunged into the Potomac River.
Among those who boarded on the flight were teenage figure skaters returning home after attending U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp.
Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, were skaters with the Skating Club of Boston. Both participated in U.S. Figure Skating 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles and Han placed fourth in the U.S. Pairs Final in the Novice Women Free Skate. Lane achieved a new personal best in the short and free skate portion of the competition in which he finished in first place.
“I am so happy to have qualified for national development camp earlier in November. It has been my goal almost ever since I became aware that it was a thing,” Lane wrote in an Instagram post. “I learned so much new information that I can apply to my everyday life, and met so many amazing people!”
Both skaters were accompanied by their mothers, Christine Lane, a New Jersey native originally from Cranford, and Jin Han.
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“Spencer, in the best way possible, was a crazy kid,” said Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston in USA Today’s tribute story to the victims.
The Livingstons, described by USA Today as a family dedicated to each other and the sport of figure skating, were heading to their home in Ashburn, Virginia.
Donna Livingston and Peter Livingston were the parents of Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11. The sisters began skating at a young age, competing across the country and earning medals in several juvenile competitions.
“He was such a dedicated father. No matter what. He would always, always make time for them so they can skate,” Badri told USA Today. “You can’t find a lot of dedicated skating families. They’re very rare. But Donna was willing to do anything. And if we couldn’t figure out how we’re going to do this she was like, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll make it work.’”
Two members of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and their coach were also on board. Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, coached Angela Yang and 11-year-old Sean Kay. Kay’s mother, Yulia, was also on the flight.
Yulia was an “incredible” woman “who lived for her children,” according to a GoFundMe created by Ulyanova and her husband.
“Their favorite part was meeting other boys who love the sport as much as they do. It’s amazing to watch them as they support each other, encourage each other, wish good luck before competitions and congratulate each other on a great skate,” said Yulia Kay an article on the U.S. Figure Skating website
Figure skating coaches and former world pairs champions Vadim Naumov, 55, and Evgenia Shishkova, 52, were also part of the plane wreckage. Doug Zeghibe, the executive director of the Skating Club of Boston, told USA Today, that the couple, who were married, were “top coaches.”
The pair were born and raised in Russia where they represented the country and won the 1994 world championships and competed in two Winter Olympics, finishing fifth in 1992 and in fourth two years later.
Ludmila Velikova coached both of them when they were children and called them “talented and beautiful people.” He told Reuters: “They were like my own children. What’s happened is awful. The best people have been taken away from us.”
Figure skating coach and competitor Inna Volyanskaya, 59, was a victim of the passenger plane and U.S. Army helicopter collision.
She competed in professional figure skating for the Soviet Union before moving to the United States. Her former skating partner, Valery Spiridonov, has a son Anton who represents the U.S. in ice figure skating. He posted on Instagram, “Dad’s skating partner. Rest in peace, Inna.”
