Two-time US Olympian Tonya Harding joined voices in the figure skating community to address the DC plane crash which she called ‘absolutely devastating.’
Harding, 54, shared a message to X in response to the tragic American Airlines and Army helicopter collision that unfolded Wednesday evening and claimed the lives of 67 people – six of whom were revealed to be members of the Skating Club of Boston.
‘The events that took place last night in Washington, DC are absolutely devastating,’ Harding wrote to X added with a broken heart emoji.
‘I’m being told that several professional figure skaters were aboard the flight as well. Sending my love and prayers to all the victims and their families.’
US Figure Skating also released a statement on Thursday morning confirming that several of their very own were aboard the fatal flight.
‘These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,’ the post on X read.
‘We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.’
Harding’s post came just hours after Nancy Kerrigan, her long-time rival, broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters on Thursday outside the Boston skating club.
Tonya Harding, two-time US Olympian, joined voices in the figure skating community to address the DC plane crash that claimed several lives of fellow members of US Figure Skating
Harding’s post came just hours after Nancy Kerrigan, her long-time rival, broke down in tears as she spoke to reporters on Thursday outside the Boston skating club
Kerrigan (right) was unable to compete in the 1994 championships after she was attacked and struck across the knee with a baton which was later revealed to be planned by Harding’s (left) ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, who aimed at stopping her competing
Harding and Kerrigan’s messages came after an American Airlines flight and Army helicopter collided on Wednesday evening and claimed the lives of 67 people – six of whom were revealed to be members of US Figure Skating
Kerrigan, 55, said she had watched the news all night after learning about the tragic events that occurred on Wednesday night.
‘We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we’re strong. I guess it’s how we respond to it and my response is to be with people I care about,’ she said. ‘We just wanted to be here and be part of our community.
‘I needed support, so that’s why I’m here. It’s a shock. I was watching all night (on television) and when you find out you know some of the people on the plane it is an even bigger blow.
‘We just wish them well, the families, the courage and the strength to make the next steps.’
Kerrigan is known across the world for being embroiled in one of the biggest scandals in sport when, in 1994, she was attacked and struck across the knee with a baton and left unable to compete in the upcoming US Figure Skating Championships.
It later emerged the attack was planned by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, who aimed at stopping her competing in the Winter Olympics that year, too.
Gillooly hired assailant Shane Stant and his uncle to carry out the attack in Detroit, Michigan. Harding herself has always denied any knowledge about the plans.
Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, announced the names of the six people associated with his club who were on board.
In a post shared to X, 54-year-old Harding (pictured earlier in the week) called the collision ‘absolutely devastating’
The collision unfolded just one day after Harding joined X – a move that many thought was controversial
Kerrigan (right) is known across the world for being embroiled in the 1994 scandal that marred Harding’s (left) career
Figure skater, Spencer Lane, 16, (middle back) alongside Russian couple Evgenia Shishkova, (middle front) 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, (right) have also been confirmed as passengers on the American Airlines flight
They are: Jinna Han, Jin Han, Spencer Lane, Christine Lane, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.
In total, he announced that there were at least 14 people on the plane associated with the figure skating group.
His announcement came after Spencer Lane shared a photo from inside the doomed plane shortly before it crashed.
The 16-year-old uploaded the photo around 7pm ET Wednesday, which appeared to show the jet taxiing on the runway at Wichita Airport before it took off for its final flight.
He captioned it ICT -> DCA – the codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Other elite members of the American figure skating team who were expected at the next winter Olympics were also onboard the plane, a bombardier CRJ700.
In a statement, Zeghibe said: ‘Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy.
‘Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 or 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family.
Two of the youngest victims of the deadly crash, Angela Yang and Sean Kay, have been identified as an up-and-coming youth ice skating duo
Harding (left) and Kerrigan (right) are just two people involved in the figure skating community that have released a public statement following the horrific plane crash
The collision in DC on Wednesday took place as the American Airlines flight carrying 64 people made its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport shortly before 9pm
‘Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.
‘These athletes, coaches and parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita.
‘This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the most promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The Club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the national development camp.’
Two of the youngest victims of the deadly crash have also been identified as an up-and-coming youth ice skating duo.
Youth ice dance partners Angela Yang and Sean Kay were on the fateful flight back from the US Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp when they were killed alongside their coach, Alexandr Kirsanov.
The collision in DC on Wednesday took place as the American Airlines flight carrying 64 people made its final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport shortly before 9pm ET.
A Black Hawk helicopter cut through the airspace from the opposite direction under cover of darkness, with both aircraft seemingly unaware of the other’s presence.
They slammed into one another just 400ft above ground, erupting in a violent explosion before plunging into the freezing Potomac River below.
The two aircrafts slammed into one another just 400ft above ground, erupting in a violent explosion before plunging into the freezing Potomac River below
First responders have recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy waters on Thursday as recovery operations continue
All of those on board both aircrafts were killed, making Wednesday’s horrific collision the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001
The horrific accident prompted a large-scale search and rescue operation over the river as helicopters, boats and police searched the water and ground.
First responders have recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy waters on Thursday as recovery operations continue.
There were 64 people on board the commercial flight, including four crew members.
Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter that was on a training flight at the time of the crash.
All of those on board both aircrafts were killed, making Wednesday’s horrific collision the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001.
