U.S. Figure Skating Posts Tribute to Victims of D.C. Plane Crash

The U.S. Figure Skating organization continues to mourn the lives lost in a deadly Washington D.C. plane crash.

“Honoring those we tragically lost,” the team wrote via Instagram on Monday, February 3. “Their memory will live on forever. 🖤”

The post included a video montage of passengers competing in various competitions long before they boarded an airplane that would tragically collide with a helicopter in Washington, D.C. on January 29.

“In memory of the 28 athletes, coaches and family members who perished in the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 5342,” the video stated.

In addition to honoring the lives lost via social media, the U.S. Figure Skating organization is helping those directly impacted by the recent plane crash.

“Our U.S. Figure Skating family suffered an unimaginable loss when several members of our community — athletes, coaches, and family members —perished aboard American Airlines Flight 5342,” a website description read. “These individuals were returning home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, a place where young skaters take their next steps toward their dreams. We are devastated by this loss and are holding the victims’ loved ones closely in our hearts.”

In response, the organization announced that they had established “the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund to provide financial assistance to those U.S. Figure Skating families directly impacted by the tragedy.”

Two victims who have grabbed the attention of mourners are figure skaters Everly and Alydia Livingston.

The sisters were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club and attended the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. In their final Instagram post, the sisters posed together rink-side at INTRUST Bank Arena, which hosted the event.

In an emotional interview, Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton tried to make sense of the tragedy that took the lives of several talented athletes.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Hamilton, 66, said through tears during a January 31 appearance on the Today show. “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. For their lives to be taken … is just devastating [and] shocking. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Hamilton went on to praise the “very tight-knit, very close-knit, very wonderful, caring, supportive” figure skating community.

“We’re no stranger to tragedy,” he added, “but this is just beyond devastation.”