The figure skating community is grieving the devastating loss of several members presumed killed in a plane crash near Reagan International Airport. The accident occurred shortly before the European Figure Skating Championships, where a poignant moment of silence was held to honor the victims.

Commentators Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, broadcasting the championships, shared heartfelt tributes before the competition began. Weir expressed the collective heartbreak of the skating world, reading excerpts from statements released by U.S. Figure Skating and the International Skating Union. Lipinski, visibly emotional, spoke of the unimaginable loss and the profound impact on the close-knit skating community. She emphasized the enduring memory of those lost.

Weir echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the community's shared sorrow and the determination to honor the legacies of their lost friends and colleagues. He extended his deepest condolences to all affected by the tragedy.

The crash involved an American Airlines flight with 64 people on board and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers. First responders have transitioned to recovery efforts in the Potomac River, with no survivors expected. Among the victims are reportedly former Olympians Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as confirmed by the Kremlin.