Two of the people onboard the American Airlines jet which crashed into a helicopter over Washington DC were champion figure skaters, it has emerged.

American Eagle flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when it collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, winter Olympians and winners of the pairs title at the 1994 world championships, were aboard.

He said: “Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington.

“We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash.”

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who competed against the Russian skaters in the Winter Olympics in 1994, have since released a statement.

The Dancing On Ice coaches took to X and penned: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of those on flight 5342 and extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. May they rest in peace.”

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were born in Leningrad and competed in pairs skating for the national teams of the USSR and Russia, winning the World Championship in 1994.

The pair also competed in the Winter Olympics that same year, where they placed fourth.

They moved to the US in 1998 and worked as coaches.

The couple were reported to have been returning from the competition and travelling with a group of young skaters.

US Figure Skating has confirmed several of its athletes were onboard the doomed flight 5342 as well.

The governing body for the sport said in a statement: “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”