A young ice skating couple has been revealed as some of the victims of the American Airlines crash this week.
In a tragic incident on January 29, an American Airlines flight collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington D.C., resulting in the loss of all 67 individuals on both aircraft.
Among the victims were several members of the figure skating community, including 11-year-old Angela Yang and her 11-year-old partner, Sean Kay, both from Delaware.
They were returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, accompanied by their coach, Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov.
Angela had recently shared her enthusiasm on Instagram, posting, “Had so so much fun at camp!!! I’m really gonna miss my friends and all the great coaches! I can’t wait for next year!”
Sean’s father, Vitali Kay, recounted his concern when his wife, Julia, and son did not arrive as scheduled. He shared to CBS News Philadelphia, “The plane was supposed to land at 9, and I called my wife and she didn’t pick up. I thought maybe it was on airplane mode and she forgot to switch it off.”
The figure skating community is mourning the loss of these young talents and their dedicated coach. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the affected families during this challenging time.
This tragedy has deeply affected all who knew Angela, Sean, and Sasha, leaving a profound void in the hearts of their loved ones and the broader figure skating community.
Authorities are continuing search and recovery efforts after the American Airlines regional jet collided with the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter while preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.
The crash, which happened over the Potomac River, is believed to have killed all 67 people on board both aircraft, making it the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.
Per The Hill, as of Thursday, more than two dozen bodies had been recovered from the river, with officials working to locate the remaining victims.
D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly stated during a press conference that he is confident all victims will ultimately be accounted for.
The U.S. Army has confirmed that the three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk were engaged in an annual night proficiency training flight at the time of the accident.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described them as a “fairly experienced crew” and stated that their families were being notified.
Two of the three soldiers have been publicly identified: Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.
The third soldier’s identity has not yet been released at the request of their family.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves acknowledged Eaves’ passing, stating, “Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport. Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting.”
The remains of all three service members are being transferred to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where military officials will oversee a dignified transfer.
Authorities remain on-site, searching for additional remains and investigating the cause of the crash.
