Plane crash in Washington: American and Russian skaters on board

An airliner with 64 people on board and a military helicopter collided in the skies over Washington on Wednesday evening before crashing into the Potomac River, a rare accident that triggered complex rescue operations in tricky conditions.

Athletes and coaches” from teams taking part in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, as well as members of their families, were on board the PSA Airlines plane that collided with a helicopter in Washington DC (eastern USA) on Wednesday evening. This information was confirmed on Thursday by the US Figure Skating Federation.

These people were “heading home” from these national championships, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the families of the victims in our hearts,” it added.  

According to the Russian state agency TASS, two former world figure skating champions, Russians Ievguenia Chichkova and Vadim Naumov, who have since become coaches, were also on board the PSA Airlines plane.  

Local authorities have so far refused to give a provisional assessment of the accident, saying that the search is continuing in the Potomac River, where the two aircraft fell. Several U.S. media outlets claim that bodies have been recovered, although they do not specify whether they are alive.  

A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided on Wednesday evening shortly before 9:00 pm in the vicinity of Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington DC. The aircraft was carrying 64 passengers and crew, while the helicopter was manned by three military personnel.