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ABC News January 30, 2025

DC plane crash victims: What we know about those aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk

WATCH: Some of the victims on the American Airlines flight identified

Dozens of people are dead after a regional jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night over Washington, D.C., officials said, the nation's first major commercial airline crash since 2009.

The aircraft went down in the frigid Potomac River, breaking into multiple pieces. The flight -- which had departed from Wichita, Kansas -- was approaching Reagan National Airport at the time of the collision, officials said.

There were no survivors in the crash, officials said Thursday.

MORE: What to know about the deadly American Airlines and Black Hawk helicopter collision

There were 64 passengers aboard the plane, and three Army soldiers in the helicopter, according to officials. The soldiers, none of whom were senior leaders, were conducting a training mission, a defense official said.

Among those lost in the crash were 14 people who were returning home from a national figure skating development camp in Wichita, according to Doug Zeghibe, the CEO and executive director for the Skating Club of Boston.

Here is a look at some of the victims.

PHOTO: Emergency response units search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed last night on approach to Reagan National Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Emergency response units search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed last night on approach to Reagan National Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.

Six of the victims were affiliated with the Skating Club of Boston, Zeghibe said.

"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," Zeghibe said in a statement.

MORE: DC plane crash live updates: No survivors expected, soldiers on helicopter had night vision goggles

The U.S. Figure Skating organization confirmed that "several members" of the skating community had been on the flight.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," the organization said. "We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."

Here's what we know about the victims so far:

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova

PHOTO: Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing at the Pairs event at the Figure Skating Championship finals in Paris.
Pierre Verdy/AFP via Getty Images
Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing at the Pairs event at the Figure Skating Championship finals in Paris.

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, a married couple, were killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Naumov and Shishkova, who were figure skating coaches, were world champions in pairs competition in 1994.

They joined the club in 2017, Zeghibe said.

Jinna Han and Jin Han

PHOTO: Jinna Han is seen in this undated photo.
The Skating Club of Boston
Jinna Han is seen in this undated photo.

Jinna Han, a figure skater, and Jin Han, her mother, were killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Spencer Lane and Christine Lane

PHOTO: Spencer Lane is seen in this undated photo.
The Skating Club of Boston
Spencer Lane is seen in this undated photo.

Skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane, were among the victims, the Skating Club of Boston said.

Doug Lane, Spencer's father and Christine's husband, told WCVB he and his wife adopted Spencer from South Korea.

Spencer Lane, 16, "just had amazing athletic abilities," and once he got interested in something, “you couldn't stop him," his father said.

The teen decided to try skating three years ago after seeing Nathan Chen in the Olympics and "committed himself to it," his dad said.

Christine Lane, 49, who worked as a graphic designer, was "such a beautiful person" who "just connected with everyone," he said. She had just gotten her real estate license, and was also a talented quilter and volunteered at a local animal rescue, he added.

His wife would "do everything for her children, including fly to Wichita, Kansas, for a week," Doug Lane said. "She just gave parenting her all."

Alexandr Kirsanov

Alexandr Kirsanov was a coach of two of the youth ice skaters on board, his wife, Natalya Gudin, told ABC News.

"I lost everything," Gudin said. "I lost my husband, I lost my students, I lost my friends."

Gudin said Kirsanov traveled with two youth skaters to attend a development camp in Kansas this week. Gudin, who also coaches students with her husband in Delaware, said she stayed home to be with their other skaters.

She last spoke with her husband as he boarded the flight on Wednesday, she said.

"I need my husband back," Gudin said. "I need his body back."

Samuel Lilley

PHOTO: Samuel Lilley, Pilot seen here in this undated image.
Tiffany Gibson
Samuel Lilley, Pilot seen here in this undated image.

Samuel Lilley, the first officer on board American Airlines Flight 5342, recently got engaged, his sister, Tiffany Gibson, told ABC News.

"He was an amazing person. He loved people. He loved adventure. He loved traveling. He was excited. He was young. He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids. And it's just, this is just tragic," she said.

Samuel Lilley's former brother-in-law, Greg Gibson, remembered him for his passion for flying and willingness to help others.

Samuel Lilley died on the same flight path his father, Timothy Lilley, flew for years. Timothy Lilley flew Black Hawk helicopters for the Army, transporting passengers over the Potomac River from his base in Virginia.

"We were stationed in Virginia, and [Timothy Lilley] flew that same route back and forth to the Pentagon, over and over and over again until he retired," Tiffany Gibson said.

Ryan O'Hara

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp identified one of the victims as Ryan O'Hara.

Kemp offered his condolences to the family of both O'Hara and Lilley, who he said were both from Georgia.

"Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short," he said in an X post. "Marty, the girls, and I ask that all Georgians join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers."

Ian Epstein

PHOTO: Flight attendant Ian Epstein, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.
Family of Ian Epstein
Flight attendant Ian Epstein, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.

The family of Ian Epstein, the flight attendant onboard American Airlines Flight 5342, is remembering him as a cherished father, husband, brother and stepfather.

"Ian Epstein was full of life. He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support we’ve received, but at this time we would ask for privacy as we process and grieve our loss,” his family said in a statement.

Wendy Jo Shaffer

The family of one victim, Wendy Jo Shaffer, confirmed she had been on the plane.

"We are devastated. Words cannot truly express what Wendy Jo meant as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and most importantly, a mother. The family is requesting privacy at this time," the family said in a statement.

Brielle and Justyna Beyer

PHOTO: Justyna Beyer, 42, and Brielle Beyer, 12, are shown in this photo.
Andrew Beyer
Justyna Beyer, 42, and Brielle Beyer, 12, are shown in this photo.

Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother, 42-year-old Justyna, were both killed in the crash, according to Andy Beyer, Brielle's father and Justyna's husband.

Andrew is left with the couple's 6-year-old son, he said.

Andy Beyer said his wife and daughter were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.

Brielle was a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia and beat cancer when she was just 4 months old.

"She was just such a fighter in everything she did," Andy Beyer said of his daughter, in an interview with ABC News. "She just lived life to the fullest with everything."

He added, "She was so proud of herself in figure skating for the progress she had made … Making that team was one of her life goals. And she achieved it. And she was just so, so proud of herself."

He remembered his daughter's passion and beautiful singing voice.

"She just lit up the house with her wonderful voice," he said.

Andy Beyer said his wife and daughter had been away for six days for the figure skating camp.

"I missed them… Figure skating at that level, it's a lifestyle," he said. "It's a full family commitment."

Elizabeth Keys

PHOTO: Elizabeth Keys, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.
Mary Keys
Elizabeth Keys, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.

Elizabeth Keys was a Washington-based attorney who caught on early flight home to go on a date for her birthday with her long-term boyfriend David, who remembered Elizabeth for being the person who always "pushed you to be the best version of yourself."

Sean Kay

Sean Kay was traveling with his skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating's National Development Camp. His death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Angela Yang

Angela Yang was traveling with her skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating's National Development Camp. Her death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Casey Crafton

Casey Crafton was a father to three sons and husband from Salem, Connecticut. His death was confirmed in a statement by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.

Grace Maxwell

PHOTO: Grace Maxwell, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.
Cedarville University
Grace Maxwell, who was onboard American Airlines flight 5342, is shown in this undated photo.

Grace Maxwell was an engineering student from Wichita, Kansas who was aboard American Airlines 5432, according to a statement from Cedarville University.

University president Thomas White described Grace as a "thoughtful, quiet student leader" who helped teach other undergraduates about engineering.

She recently signed up to create a hand-stabilizing device to help a disabled child feed himself without assistance from others.

“Grace was a quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering,” said Tim Norman, her adviser.

Olivia Ter

Olivia Ter, 12, was a treasured member of the Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, Maryland, who inspired her peers and coaches, according to a statement from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

She was one of four elite skaters from her region to attend the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, and earned praise for her " talent, determination and sportsmanship."

“The impact of Olivia’s life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed,” stated Bill Tyler, director of the commission's Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, Maryland.