Victims of Washington DC plane crash include US Figure Skating Championship contestants and coaches
Six members of a figure skating club from Massachusetts, including two teenagers, are among those who died aboard the doomed American Airlines flight that crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C.
The passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed mid-air with the helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday evening. Three people in the helicopter also died in the crash.
There are likely no survivors as the massive rescue mission turned into a recovery operation, officials said Thursday.
Two pilots and two attendants on the commercial flight, along with two people on the helicopter are among those who have been identified by family members. Victims als include citizens of Russia, China, Germany and the Philippines.
At least 28 bodies of 67 have now been recovered from the water.
The Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, confirmed that six of its members were aboard the doomed flight, including two skaters, two coaches and two parents.
U.S. Figure Skating said athletes, coaches and family members were returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” it said in a statement.
The midair collision occurred as the passenger jet, traveling from Wichita in Kansas, was on approach to land at Reagan. Radio communications between the air traffic control tower and the Black Hawk showed the helicopter crew knew the plane was in the vicinity.
This is what we know about the victims of the crash:
Sam Lilley, 28, was one of two people piloting the flight from Wichita, Kansas, his father Timothy Lilley told Fox 5 Atlanta. The young pilot was also engaged, according to his dad whose worst fears were confirmed when his son never checked in after the flight as usual.
“This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,” Lilley told Fox 5.
The family has ties to the Savannah, Georgia, area.
Lilley served as an Army helicopter pilot for 20 years, telling Fox 5 that he has flown a similar route over the Potomac River.
