DC plane crash victims: What we know about those on AA Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk
Share and Follow

Dozens of people are dead after a regional jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night over Washington, D.C., officials said, the nation’s first major commercial airline crash since 2009.

The aircraft went down in the frigid Potomac River, breaking into multiple pieces. The flight — which had departed from Wichita, Kansas — was approaching Reagan National Airport at the time of the collision, officials said.

MORE: 67 dead after midair collision between passenger jet and military helicopter

From left to right: Samuel Lilley, Justyna Beyer and Brielle Beyer, and Ian Epstein. (Photos courtesy Tiffany Gibson/Andrew Beyer, Family of Ian Epstein)

From left to right: Samuel Lilley, Justyna Beyer and Brielle Beyer, and Ian Epstein. (Photos courtesy Tiffany Gibson/Andrew Beyer, Family of Ian Epstein)

There were no survivors in the crash, officials said Thursday.

There were 64 passengers aboard the plane, and three Army soldiers in the helicopter, according to officials. The soldiers, none of whom were senior leaders, were conducting a training mission, a defense official said.

Among those lost in the crash were 14 people who were returning home from a national figure skating development camp in Wichita, according to Doug Zeghibe, the CEO and executive director for the Skating Club of Boston.

VIDEO: Nancy Kerrigan, Boston skating community pay tribute to those lost in DC crash

Fourteen members of the figure skating community were killed in the plane crash, six of them from the Skating Club of Boston.

Six of the victims were affiliated with the Skating Club of Boston, Zeghibe said.

“Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 or 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family,” Zeghibe said in a statement.

The U.S. Figure Skating organization confirmed that “several members” of the skating community had been on the flight.

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

Here’s what we know about the victims so far:

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 1996 shows Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing at the Pairs event at the Figure Skating Championship finals in Paris.

This photo taken on Feb. 24, 1996 shows Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov performing at the Pairs event at the Figure Skating Championship finals in Paris.

Photo by PIERRE VERDY/AFP via Getty Images

Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, a married couple, were also killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Naumov and Shishkova, who were figure skating coaches, were world champions in pairs competition in 1994.

They joined the club in 2017, Zeghibe said.

Jinna Han and Jin Han

Jinna Han

Jinna Han

The Skating Club of Boston

Jinna Han, a figure skater, and Jin Han, her mother, were killed in the crash, according to the Skating Club of Boston.

Spencer Lane and Christine Lane

Spencer Lane

Spencer Lane

The Skating Club of Boston

Skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Lane, were among the victims, the Skating Club of Boston said.

Doug Lane, Spencer’s father and Christine’s husband, told WCVB he and his wife adopted Spencer from South Korea.

Spencer Lane, 16, “just had amazing athletic abilities,” and once he got interested in something, you couldn’t stop him,” his father said.

The teen decided to try skating three years ago after seeing Nathan Chen in the Olympics and “committed himself to it,” his dad said.

Christine Lane, 49, who worked as a graphic designer, was “such a beautiful person” who “just connected with everyone,” he said. She had just gotten her real estate license, and was also a talented quilter and volunteered at a local animal rescue, he added.

His wife would “do everything for her children, including fly to Wichita, Kansas, for a week,” Doug Lane said. “She just gave parenting her all.”

Alexandr Kirsanov

Alexandr Kirsanov

The wife of skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov confirmed to ABC News her husband was on the plane.

Natalya Gudin went on to say Kirsanov was with two youth ice skaters on board the flight.

“I lost everything. I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends,” Gudin said.

Gudin, who also coaches students with her husband in Delaware, said she stayed home to be with their other skaters.

“We are husband and wife,” Gudin said. “We decided who’s going, who’s staying home,” she said. “We decided he would go to the development camp.”

Gudin last spoke with her husband as he boarded the flight on Wednesday, she said.

“I need my husband back,” Gudin said as she waited at a hotel for further information from authorities. “I need his body back.”

Samuel Lilley

Samuel Lilley

Samuel Lilley

Tiffany Gibson

Samuel Lilley, the first officer on board American Airlines Flight 5342, recently got engaged, his sister, Tiffany Gibson, told ABC News.

“He was an amazing person. He loved people. He loved adventure. He loved traveling. He was excited. He was young. He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids. And it’s just, this is just tragic,” she said.

Samuel Lilley’s former brother-in-law, Greg Gibson, remembered him for his passion for flying and willingness to help others.

Samuel Lilley died on the same flight path his father, Timothy Lilley, flew for years. Timothy Lilley flew Black Hawk helicopters for the Army, transporting passengers over the Potomac River from his base in Virginia.

“We were stationed in Virginia, and [Timothy Lilley] flew that same route back and forth to the Pentagon, over and over and over again until he retired,” Tiffany Gibson said.

Ryan O’Hara

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp identified one of the victims as Ryan O’Hara.

Kemp offered his condolences to the family of both O’Hara and Lilley, who he said were both from Georgia.

“Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short,” he said in an X post. “Marty, the girls, and I ask that all Georgians join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

Ian Epstein

This undated image shows Ian Epstein.

This undated image shows Ian Epstein.

Family of Ian Epstein

The family of Ian Epstein, the flight attendant onboard American Airlines Flight 5342, is remembering him as a cherished father, husband, brother and stepfather.

“Ian Epstein was full of life. He loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. But his true love was his family. He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support weve received, but at this time we would ask for privacy as we process and grieve our loss, his family said in a statement.

Wendy Jo Shaffer

The family of one victim, Wendy Jo Shaffer, confirmed she had been on the plane.

“We are devastated. Words cannot truly express what Wendy Jo meant as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and most importantly, a mother. The family is requesting privacy at this time,” the family said in a statement.

Brielle and Justyna Beyer

From left to right: Justyna Beyer, 42, and Brielle Beyeer, 12.

From left to right: Justyna Beyer, 42, and Brielle Beyeer, 12.

Andrew Beyer

Brielle Beyer, 12, and her mother, 42-year-old Justyna, were both killed in the crash, according to Andrew Beyer, Brielle’s father and Justyna’s husband.

Andrew is left with the couple’s 6-year-old son, he said.

Brielle was a member of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia and beat cancer when she was just 4 months old.

“She was just such a fighter in everything she did,” Andy Beyer said of his daughter, in an interview with ABC News. “She just lived life to the fullest with everything.”

He added, “She was so proud of herself in figure skating for the progress she had made … Making that team was one of her life goals. And she achieved it. And she was just so, so proud of herself.”

He remembered his daughter’s passion and beautiful singing voice.

“She just lit up the house with her wonderful voice,” he said.

Andy Beyer said his wife and daughter had been away for six days for the figure skating camp.

“I missed them… Figure skating at that level, it’s a lifestyle,” he said. “It’s a full family commitment.”

Elizabeth Keys

Elizabeth Keys

Elizabeth Keys was a Washington-based attorney who caught an early flight home to go on a date for her birthday with her long-term boyfriend David, who remembered Elizabeth for being the person who always “pushed you to be the best version of yourself.”

Sean Kay

Sean Kay was traveling with his skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. His death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Angela Yang

Angela Yang was traveling with her skating coach Alexandr Kirsanov after attending the U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. Her death was confirmed in a statement by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

Casey Crafton

Casey Crafton was a father to three sons and husband from Salem, Connecticut. His death was confirmed in a statement by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.

Grace Maxwell

Grace Maxwell

Grace Maxwell

Cedarville University

Grace Maxwell was an engineering student from Wichita, Kansas who was aboard American Airlines 5432, according to a statement from Cedarville University.

University president Thomas White described Grace as a “thoughtful, quiet student leader” who helped teach other undergraduates about engineering.

She recently signed up to create a hand-stabilizing device to help a disabled child feed himself without assistance from others.

“Grace was a quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering,” said Tim Norman, her adviser.

Olivia Ter

Olivia Ter, 12, was a treasured member of the Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, Maryland, who inspired her peers and coaches, according to a statement from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

She was one of four elite skaters from her region to attend the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, and earned praise for her ” talent, determination and sportsmanship.”

“The impact of Olivia’s life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed,” stated Bill Tyler, director of the commission’s Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Kiah Duggins

Kiah Duggins was a civil rights attorney and an incoming Howard University professor.

Duggins was a Wichita, Kansas, native and attended Wichita State University, received a Fulbright grant, attended law school at Harvard and worked as a civil rights attorney.

In the fall, Duggins was planning to begin teaching as a professor at Howard University School of Law.

“As a civil rights lawyer, she dedicated her career to fighting against unconstitutional policing and unjust money bail practices in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C,” a statement from the university said.

Duggins worked to challenge police misconduct, fight cash bail policies, and pursued prison industrial complex abolition, according to her professional biography. She also was a White House intern during the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Copyright © 2025 ABC News Internet Ventures.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
NASCAR settles federal antitrust case filed by 2 of its teams, one owned by Michael Jordan

NASCAR Resolves Antitrust Dispute Involving Michael Jordan’s Racing Team

NASCAR has reached a settlement in the high-profile antitrust lawsuit brought against…
Ukrainian woman charged over Russian-backed cyberattacks, $10M reward offered for others

Ukrainian Woman Indicted for Russian-Linked Cyberattacks; U.S. Offers $10M Reward for Additional Information

The U.S. Department of Justice has accused a Ukrainian woman of participating…
California woman gives birth inside self-driving Waymo taxi

California Woman Welcomes Baby in Self-Driving Waymo Taxi: A New Milestone for Autonomous Vehicles

A remarkable event unfolded this week as a pregnant woman gave birth…
Audi Crooks dominates for Iowa State in statement win over Iowa

Audi Crooks Shines as Iowa State Secures Impressive Victory Against Iowa

AMES, Iowa — In a thrilling showdown, Audi Crooks delivered an impressive…
Gavin Newsom reveals the awkward text Kamala Harris sent to him

Gavin Newsom Discloses Unusual Text Message Received from Kamala Harris

California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to throw his support behind former…
Flowers, challenge coins and other items lay near a photograph of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom at a makeshift memorial outside of Farragut West Station, near the site where two National Guard members were shot, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Honoring a Hero: West Virginia National Guard Member Tragically Killed in DC Shooting Laid to Rest

A solemn farewell was bid to a member of the West Virginia…
Shooting at Newark recording studio leaves 2 dead, 2 injured

Tragic Shooting at Newark Recording Studio Claims Lives: What You Need to Know

In a tragic incident at a Newark, New Jersey recording studio on…
Michigan stunningly fires head coach Sherrone Moore

Michigan Shocks Fans with Unexpected Dismissal of Head Coach Sherrone Moore

In a surprising development in the realm of college football, the University…