Brian Boitano Reflects on ‘Horrible’ Plane Crash After Week in Wichita

Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano reflected on the tragic plane crash that killed multiple American figure skaters after spending a special week alongside them in Wichita, Kansas.

“My heart breaks for my skating family today and my thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by this horrible tragedy,” Boitano, 61, wrote via his Instagram Story on Thursday, January 30. “At a loss for words for my friends, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, and their son Maxim 💔.”

Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, were among the six confirmed members of The Skating Club of Boston who died in the Wednesday, January 29, crash. Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, both 16-year-old members of the U.S. Development Team, and their respective mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han, were also killed. 

The American figure skating community had descended on Kansas for the 2025 Prevagan U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Wichita’s INTRUST Bank Arena. The competition had wrapped up on Sunday, January 26, but some young skaters stayed for a training camp. 

Boitano, a gold medalist at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, had hosted his Boitano’s Lounge at the arena from Friday, January 24, through Sunday. According to U.S. Figure Skating, Boitano’s Lounge included “signature cocktails, a full bar, a selection of appetizers, meals and special guests.”

It was also a notable week for Boitano away from the rink, as Brian’s late mother and Wichita native, Donna Boitano, was honored with a street named in her honor. 

“Donna Boitano was born and raised in Wichita,” the city’s tourism board shared via Instagram on Friday. “When she attended her 50th Wichita North High reunion, she brought her Olympic Gold Medalist son, Brian Boitano. He stole the spotlight that night. So with the Prevagen US Figure Skating Championships in town, we decided to steal a little of Brian’s spotlight and honor his mother, Donna.”

The post concluded, “Needless to say, Brian is now an honorary Wichitan and an incredible sport. Here’s to Donna Boitano!”

In his own Instagram post on Wednesday, Brian called it a “memorable experience” and thanked Wichita for “honoring my mom.”

A statement released by Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe on Thursday confirmed the identities of the six club members who had died. 

“Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” the statement read. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 to 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. 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.”

The statement continued, “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.”

In a separate statement provided by U.S. Figure Skating to news outlet WUSA9 on Thursday, the organization confirmed the deaths of several of its athletes. 

“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.” the statement read. “These athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

At a press conference on Thursday, Zeghibe announced 14 U.S. figure skaters had been killed in the crash.