U.S. figure skater Spencer Lane shared a photo from his flight before the American Airlines plane crashed in Washington D.C.
Lane, 16, took to Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 29, to upload a photo of the jet on the runaway at Wichita Airport in Kansas before it took off. “ICT -> DCA,” read the post, which are the codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C.
In a separate post, Lane reflected on his professional accomplishment, writing, “NDC!! 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. I learned so much new information that i can apply to my everyday life, and met so many amazing people!”
He continued: “Thank you so much @team.genia.vadim , @annehgoldbergbaldwin , and @skatingclubbos for supporting me in achieving my goal, and always pushing me to be the best i can be. Thank you @usfigureskating and the local organizing committee for making everything happen, and lastly, huge thank you to all the amazing friends, coaches, and faculty that i have met over the last week, it was such an amazing experience.”
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News broke on Wednesday night that an airplane crashed into an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. and fell into the Potomac River while attempting to land. According to WUSA9, more than “300 emergency crews” arrived to conduct a search and rescue operation. More than a dozen bodies were recovered from the water by divers.
“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.” a statement from the organization read. “These athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”
The International Skating Union addressed the tragedy in their own statement after it was reported that two Russian skaters, Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were also on the plane.
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“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” they stated. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.”
Some of the passengers on the flight were coming back from the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which took place in Wichita from January 20 to January 26. The U.S. Figure Skating website noted that a reception was held to mark the induction of the Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.
