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Two Teen Skaters Described as ‘Future of the Sport’ Killed in D.C. Plane Crash

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The Skating Club of Boston lost six people in the American Airlines jet’s collision with a helicopter. Jinna Han and Spencer Lan were the two bright young lights.

Spencer Lane/Jinna Han
YouTube/SpencerLane/The Skate Club of Boston

Two young figure skaters described by an official as the “future of the sport” are believed to have died in the crash of American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington, D.C., their club announced Thursday.

Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were on board the CRJ 700 jet along with four others from the Skating Club of Boston, CEO Doug Zeghibe told a media press conference.

Their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane, and two coaches, Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were the other victims, he confirmed.

Lane and Han were both about 16 years old, Zeghibe said, and were on board the D.C.-bound flight from Wichita, after participating in a select camp for top young figure skaters that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last week at the city’s Intrust Bank Arena.

The flight crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night after it collided with a military helicopter.

“They were in the camp for younger skaters that have been identified with promise by [sport governing body] U.S. Figure Skating’s high development committee,” he said. “US Figure Skating was looking to everyone in that camp as the future of the sport.”

Zeghibe said the fathers of both skaters were not on board the flight.

“Spencer, in the best way possible, was a crazy kid,” Zeghibe recalled. “Highly talented, like incredibly talented. Has not been skating very long and rocketed to the top of the sport. Very fun, very cerebral, a good thinker.”

Lane documented his nascent career in a video posted to TikTok in November, showcasing a series of new personal bests in recent tournaments.

“Jinna was just a wonderful kid,” he added. “Great athlete, great competitor. Loved by all.”

Jonah Sobieraj, a figure skater who said he has been friends Han for seven years, echoed Zeghibe‘s assessment, noting she was renowned among fellow competitors for being incredibly talented and incredibly kind.

“She always wears a smile,” Sobieraj added. “She had huge dreams and amazing talents. She was enthusiastic, caring, and an amazing friend to all.”

Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55—who became coaches after a storied career that saw them anointed world pairs champions—were survived by their son, Maxim Naumov, according to Zeghibe.

Maxim, 23, is a competitive figure skater and was in Wichita to participate in the championships but returned home earlier than his parents because he was not a participant in the camp.

Zeghibe held back tears as he recounted that Shishkova “was always too nervous to watch [her son] skate” and that his father celebrated with him after he turned in a “great performance.”

“Six is a horrific number for us,” he said, of his club’s losses. “But we’re fortunate and grateful it wasn’t more than six. This will have long, reaching impacts for our skating community.”

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