The Victims of the D.C. Midair Collision: Personal Stories Emerge

A look into the lives of those aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and the Army Black Hawk helicopter, as families and friends mourn.

WASHINGTON — On a tragic Wednesday evening, a collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River left no survivors. The plane, which was moments away from landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk had three soldiers aboard. The crash, which was captured in a harrowing video seen worldwide, has shaken many, with the search for survivors swiftly turning into a recovery operation.

Losses include figure skaters and their families
Among the passengers were a number of young figure skaters returning from the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Among them were Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, both 16, promising skaters at The Skating Club of Boston. Lane’s early start at Warwick Figure Skaters was remembered fondly, with the club describing him as a "bright light." Tragically, Lane and Han were flying with their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Han.

Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, were also aboard. The pair had been in Wichita for Brielle to further hone her skills at the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. Brielle's aunt, Mariola Witkowska, spoke of the heartbreak, revealing that skating was Brielle’s entire life, a passion she shared with her mother.

Skating coaches and past champions lost
Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both highly respected skating coaches, were among the victims. Together, they had won the 1994 world championship in pairs figure skating and had competed in two Olympics. They also coached Maxim Naumov, their 24-year-old son, who had competed in Wichita but took an earlier flight home. Their loss has been deeply felt within the skating community, with those who knew them mourning not just their loss but the future of the sport they helped shape.

Inna Volyanskaya, another figure skater-turned-coach, was also among the dead. Before her coaching career, she had dazzled audiences as Ariel in Disney on Ice’s “The Little Mermaid.”

Members of the labor community onboard
Among the victims were five members of the Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Local 602 union from the Washington area, along with two members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The union members were returning from a trip, though their reasons for travel remain unknown.

One passenger, Mikey Stovall, 40, a steamfitter from Maryland, was on the flight with seven of his friends, returning from a duck hunting trip in Kansas. He is survived by his wife and son.

Heartbreaking losses beyond the skating community
Among the other passengers was Kiah Duggins, a professor at Howard University School of Law, who was remembered by her parents as a "beautiful and accomplished firstborn." Wendy Jo Shaffer, a devoted wife and mother of two young children, was also on board, as was Lori Schrock, 56, and her husband Robert, 58, who were en route to visit their daughter, a junior at Villanova University.

Elizabeth Keys, an attorney at Wilkinson Stekloff, was also killed in the crash. Described by her mother as "fearless" and "filled with light and joy," Keys was deeply loved by her family and colleagues. Her co-worker, Sarah Lee Best, was also on the flight, leaving the firm and their families devastated.

Families torn apart
The tragedy also affected countless families. Asra Hussain, a consultant returning home from a business trip, had been texting her husband, Hamaad Raza, throughout the flight. Raza, waiting for her at the airport, lost contact with her just before the crash. He shared his sorrow, describing his wife as "such a giver" and reflecting on the life they shared.

The stories of those lost in this devastating crash continue to unfold, as friends, families, and colleagues remember them as more than just victims of a tragic accident—they were loved ones, mentors, and individuals who left a lasting impact on the world around them.