No survivors from Washington, DC, plane crash carrying US and Russian ice skaters

Authorities don’t believe there are any survivors from a passenger plane and military helicopter that collided over Washington, DC, and crashed into the freezing river below.

There were three military personnel on board the helicopter when the aircraft crashed into the Potomac River just before 8.50pm on Friday night (1.50pm Thursday AEDT).

Just after sunrise on Thursday morning (late Thursday AEDT), Washington fire chief John Donnelly said the rescue efforts had shifted to a recovery operation.

“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident, and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,” he said.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said at this stage it wasn’t known why the two aircrafts collided.

“I want to express my sincere condolences for the accident that happened at DCA last night,” he said.

“We’re absolutely heartbroken for the family and loved ones of the passengers and crew members, and also for those that were on the military aircraft.”

Russian and US figure skaters on board

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters that Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the 64 people on board the United Airlines flight.

They won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice.

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

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

He did not give details on how many fatalities there were.

Shishkova and Naumov are listed as professional pairs coaches on the website of the Skating Club of Boston. Their son, Maxim Naumov, is a competitive figure skater for the US.

US Figure Skating said passengers included a group of figure skaters, their coaches and family members who were returning from a development camp held after the national US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organisation said.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

Team USA pair skater Luke Wang said the news was “absolutely heartbreaking” and ice dancer Ethan Peal said he was “in shock”.

The international governing body for figure skating said the global skating community was “deeply shocked” and “heartbroken” to learn that figure skaters and those close to them were on the flight.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together,” the International Skating Union said in a statement.

‘Everything was standard’

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said the plane was found upside down split into three different sections in waist-deep water.

Duffy said “everything was standard” on a clear night in the lead-up to the crash and the combination of passenger and military aircraft sharing similar airspace was “not unusual”.

“If you live in the DC area, you’ll see helicopters up and down the river,” he said.

“This flight pattern is seen oftentimes when you live in DC, this was a standard flight pattern last night as well. 

“The American Airlines flight coming into land was in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA.”

Asked about US President Donald Trump suggesting in an overnight social media post that the collision could have been prevented, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely”.

Duffy also said passengers should be “assured” that flying is safe.

“We have early indicators of what happened here and I will tell you with complete confidence we have the safest airspace in the world,” he said.

Three US Army personnel were on board the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it collided with the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet arriving in the city from Wichita, Kansas, just before 9pm on Wednesday (2pm Thursday AEDT).

The helicopter was on a training flight and not carrying any VIPs, according to a US defence official.

Before dawn on Thursday (Thursday night AEDT), authorities were yet to confirm any survivors or bodies being pulled from the river as hundreds of rescuers searched the frigid waters.

Images showed boats around a partly submerged wing and what appeared to be the mangled wreckage of the plane’s fuselage.

Helicopters flew overhead with powerful search lights scanning the murky waters, while emergency vehicles lit up the banks of the Potomac in a long line of blinking red lights.

The water temperature was just above freezing. Hypothermia begins when the body’s core temperature falls to 35 degrees, a process that can start within moments in water this cold.

Officials offered few details on the status of the victims as they concluded their early-morning press briefing Thursday.

“I can’t say anything about the rescue operation right now,” said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, as reporters continue to press for updates on the passengers.

Asked if there were any survivors, Fire and EMS Chief John A  Donnelly said, “We don’t know yet, but we’re working”.

– With Associated Press and CNN