King Charles Reacts to D.C. Plane Crash



King Charles III has reacted to the recent American Airlines plane crash.

“My family and I have been profoundly shocked and saddened by the dreadful news of the tragic air accident in Washington, D.C., which has led to such a devastating loss of life,” the British monarch, 76, said in a Saturday, February 1, statement. “Our hearts, and our special thoughts, are with the people of the United States and our deepest possible sympathy goes to the families and loved ones of all the victims.”

He continued, “I would also like to pay a particular tribute to the emergency responders who acted so quickly to this horrendous event.”

News broke on Wednesday, January 29, that a commercial flight traveling from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River. All 67 people involved in the accident died, including the 60 passengers and four crew members on the American aircraft.

The American Airlines flight manifest also included 14 youth figure skaters who traveled to Kansas for U.S. Figure Skating’s development camp earlier this week.

“It’s beyond the skating community. So many people see this tragedy and the loss of these brilliant young skaters who have poured their lives into building an identity in our sport,” Olympian Scott Hamilton tearfully said on the Today show on Friday, January 31. “For their lives to be taken … is just devastating [and] shocking. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

He continued, “This is where the community comes together. It’s a very tight-knit, very close-knit, very wonderful, caring, supportive community. We’re no stranger to tragedy, but this is just beyond devastation.”

Six of the skaters involved in the airspace tragedy belonged to the Skating Club of Boston.

“Any time I’ve been able to be here and watch them grow. The kids here really work hard, their parents work hard to be here,” fellow Olympian Nancy Kerrigan said in Thursday, January 30, press conference at the Massachusetts rink. “I just feel for the athletes, the skaters, their families and anyone who was on that plane — not just the skaters because it’s just such a tragic event. We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people and we are strong. My response is to be with people I care about and I love; I wanted to support.”

Members of the flight industry have also memorialized the late American Airlines crew members.

“Flight Attendant Ian Epstein wasn’t just a crew member — he was the heart of every flight he worked,” travel influencer Jay Robert wrote via Instagram on Friday. “Through his quick wit and infectious humor, he turned routine trips into moments of joy, making passengers smile even on the most stressful travel days.”

Singer Katharine McPhee Foster also once had an encounter with Epstein “on one of our many flights.” She said in an Instagram Story post on Friday that he was always “a gem.”