Plane crash kills world champion figure skaters and the ‘future’ of the sport in a tragic case of déjà vu

Once again, figure skaters representing the past, present and future of the sport perished in a catastrophic plane crash.

Once again, figure skaters representing the past, present and future of the sport perished in a catastrophic plane crash – devastating a global community far too familiar with tragedy. No one survived the midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter Wednesday night, authorities said. “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.,” read a statement from the organization, America’s governing body for figure skating. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.” US Figure Skating has not confirmed the total number of skaters killed. But a married pair of skating champions, two young skaters and their mothers were among those lost in the plane crash, the Skating Club of Boston said Thursday.