Doug Zeghibe, Executive Director of the Skating Club of BostonPhoto: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
NORWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Six people associated with the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood were on the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. Wednesday night.
Authorities said they believed all passengers on the plane and the helicopter were dead.
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Doug Zeghibe, CEO and executive director of the Skating Club of Boston, announced Thursday morning that two coaches, two skaters, and two parents connected with the club were on the flight. They were returning from the National Development Camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.
"Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy ... Everyone is like family," Zeghibe said in a statement. "We are devastated and completely at a loss for words."
The two coaches were former skating pair Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won gold at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships.
The others on the plane were skaters Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, both teenagers, and their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane.
In a press conference, Zeghibe described Spencer as a crazy kid, "in the best way possible", and "incredibly talented." He called Jinna a "wonderful kid" with wonderful parents, and a great competitor who was who was loved by all.
"Folks are just stunned by this. My phone is just blowing up with emails and texts of folks offering their support," Zeghibe said.