**Russian Figure Skaters on Board Plane That Crashed in Washington**
A plane crash in Washington, DC has claimed the lives of everyone on board. The American Airlines plane was landing at the city’s airport when it crashed into a military helicopter.
Among the 64 people on the plane were two Russian figure skaters, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, who were world champions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that they were on the plane.
The skaters were returning from the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Their son Maxim, who competes for the US national team, was also allegedly on board, according to Russian media.
Other passengers included Inna Volyanskaya, a bronze medalist from the USSR championship in pairs skating. Most of the skaters were children of Russian immigrants, according to reports.
**Rescue Efforts**
In the first hours after the crash, rescuers found no survivors. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
The plane was flying from Wichita, Kansas where the US Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp were taking place. The championships are an important event in the figure skating calendar.
**Reaction to News**
Peskov expressed his sadness at the news, saying that there were “several others of our fellow citizens” on board. He added that it was “bad news from Washington today”.
The Kremlin spokesperson’s statement was a grim reminder of the risks faced by athletes and their families when traveling internationally.
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