Two aircraft collided midair near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night in a catastrophic crash that left no survivors, according to authorities. Some of those killed in the collision had roots in the D.C. area.

Authorities said they are working to recover the bodies of the 64 people who were on an American Airlines flight that collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter before crashing into the Potomac River. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter and their bodies have been recovered.

‘We will never forget them’: Figure skating community mourns

Members of the figure skating community are reeling as some of their members were on board when the passenger flight plunged into the Potomac’s icy waters after the collision.

Among those on board was Inna Volyanskaya, a figure skating coach in Ashburn, Virginia, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam confirmed in a social media post.

According to her biography posted to the Ashburn Ice House’s website, Volyanskaya was a competitive skater herself and became a coach more than 20 years ago. She was an acclaimed pair skater with the Soviet Union National Team and went on to perform as Ariel with Disney on Ice.

“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” U.S. Figure Skating wrote in a statement.

Ilia Malinin, a Fairfax teen nicknamed the “quad god” for his quadruple jumps, shared his condolences.

“I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters in this devastating accident,” said Malinin, a three-time U.S. and reigning world champion. “The figure skating community is a family, and this loss is beyond words. My thoughts are with their families, friends and everyone affected. We will never forget them.”

Outside of D.C.-area residents, other passengers from the skating community include two teenage figure skaters, their mothers from Boston and two world champion coaches from Russia.

D.C.-area school systems, employers share in loss

Four members of the UA Local 602 union were on the flight, according to a joint statement from United Association president Mark McManus and business manager Chris Madello. The union represents people who work on heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and process piping.

“These members will be forever in our hearts, and may God bless them and their loved ones. May they forever rest in peace,” a joint statement reads from McManus and Madello.

Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence confirmed multiple victims were former students in the school system.

Superintendent Michelle Reid said members of the Fairfax County Public Schools community are among those who died.

Neither school system provided any further details, such as names of those killed.

“We will be sharing more with our FCPS community as we are able but want to be very sensitive to the situation and the people we care about,” Reid wrote in a letter.

Both Northern Virginia school systems said they will be offering mental health counseling to those community members who request it.

This is a developing story. Stick with WTOP for the latest. 

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