FIGURE skaters including children were onboard the crashed American Airlines plane that plunged into a river.

Among the passengers there were reportedly champion figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

The plane plunged into Potomac River in Washington DC after colliding with a US Army helicopter just before 9pm.

The married couple, from Russia, were among the 64 people on board the flight, Tass news agency reports.

Shishkova and Naumov won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.

The couple had reportedly lived in the United States since at least 1998, where they trained young ice skaters.

Their son Maxim, who competed for the US in singles, was also feared to have been on board the plane,

He had been competing at the U.S. figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas from Jan. 20-26, according to the event’s website.

Russia’s Mash news outlet published a list of 13 skaters, many of them the children of Russian immigrants to the US who it said were believed to have been on the plane.

Another former skater who competed for the Soviet Union, Inna Volyanskaya was also reported to have been on board.

She was a coach at the Washington figure skating club, according to its website.

US Figure Skating said several members of its skating community were also on board.

It said that the athletes, coaches and relatives were travelling back home from a development camp held in Wichita, Kansas.

It said: “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.”

While Team USA pair skater Luke Wang said on X: “Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to DC. 

It comes as…

“Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking.” 

Hopes are dwindling for survivors with officials warning there are “many, many” dead after the jet reportedly split in two.

American Eagle Flight 5342 from Kansas was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan International Airport when it collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter just before 9pm.

It was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.

Horror CCTV from the Kennedy Center showed the moment the aircraft burst into flames after crashing in the air.

Rescue crews are grappling with dark, cold conditions to search for any survivors as police divers and boats scour the freezing waters.

Officials say there are “many, many, many” people dead, but have not confirmed the tragic toll.

More than 300 emergency workers are at the scene, with the airport’s fire chief saying the operation will last “many hours”.

At least 18 bodies have reportedly been pulled from the river so far.

Chilling audio from air traffic control has revealed the final communications between the aircraft and air traffic control.

American Airlines chief Robert Isom expressed his “deep sorrow” over the crash and said it is a “difficult day”.

He added: “Are efforts now are focussed on entirely on the needs our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders – along with their families and loved ones.”

President Donald Trump said he is “monitoring” the situation – and claimed the incident “should have been prevented” in a post on Truth Social.

He said: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.

“May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.

“I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”