Figure skater Spencer Lane shared an image on his Instagram story that appears to have been taken from inside the American Airlines plane just hours before it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington. The haunting photo shows the wing of the aircraft through the window, with a caption suggesting he was on a flight from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Since the crash, Lane has not been heard from, and Newsweek has reported that he was on board the doomed flight. American Airlines Flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it was struck by the military helicopter while preparing to land at Reagan Airport. Both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River below, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.
US Figure Skating has confirmed that athletes, coaches, and family members from the skating community were on board the flight, though no specific names have been released. The passengers had attended the US Figure Skating Championships and were returning from a National Development Camp that had taken place in conjunction with the competition. In a statement, the organization expressed its devastation over the tragedy and offered condolences to the victims’ families, promising to provide updates as more information became available.
Rescue teams are combing the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport, where debris from the crash has been located. Reports indicate that at least 19 bodies have been recovered so far, and no survivors have been found.
Lane had also shared posts about the championships and the development camp just hours before the accident. In a series of images and videos, he celebrated his qualification for the camp, calling it a long-time goal and expressing gratitude for the opportunity. His post reflected his excitement at learning new skills, meeting fellow skaters, and participating in an event he had dreamed of attending. He thanked US Figure Skating, the organizing committee, and the coaches and friends he had met during the experience.
Russian figure skating champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also reportedly on board the American Airlines flight. The married pair, both in their 50s, had won the world championship in pairs skating in 1994. Their 23-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, who recently placed fourth at the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas, is also believed to have been on the flight with them.
Approximately 300 first responders are involved in the urgent effort to locate victims. The Black Hawk helicopter had been conducting a test flight when the collision occurred. Audio recordings from air traffic control revealed that warnings had been issued to the military aircraft about the presence of the passenger plane just seconds before impact.
