Nancy Kerrigan Tearfully Pays Tribute to Figure Skaters Lost in Tragic Plane Crash

Olympic figure skating legend Nancy Kerrigan became emotional as she honoured members of the skating community who are believed to have died in a devastating plane crash.

The tragedy involved American Airlines flight 5342 colliding with a military helicopter over Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening. Among those on board were skaters returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.

Speaking at a Jan. 30 press conference at the Skating Club of Boston—which lost six members in the crash—Kerrigan, through tears, reflected on the loss.

A Community in Mourning

While Kerrigan had trained at the club’s former facility, she shared that she hadn’t personally coached the victims but had interacted with them over the years.

"Our community is ... it’s pretty small," she said. "It’s not just here that’s hurting. Every rink that has skating has feelings towards this. It’s tragic."

The accident has drawn comparisons to the 1961 Sabena Flight 548 crash, which claimed the lives of all 18 members of the U.S. figure skating team.

A Club with a Legacy

The Boston Skating Club, established in 1912, is one of the most prestigious figure skating programs in the country. Now, it joins the wider skating world in mourning this heartbreaking loss. 💔⛸️

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