A young ice skating duo and their coach were among the victims aboard the doomed American Airlines plane that collided with a Black Hawk chopper Wednesday night, according to a report.
Youngsters Angela Yang and Sean Kay and their teacher Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov were all killed as the plane traveling from Wichita, Kansas attempted to land at Reagan National Airport in DC around 9 p.m., the coach’s wife told the News Journal.
Youngsters Angela Yang and Sean Kay and their teacher Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov were all killed as the plane attempted to land at Reagan National Airport in DC, the coach’s wife told the News Journal. Angela Yang/Instagram“We always use American Airlines when we go to competition,” Natalia Gudin told the newspaper. “This time they go without me, and all of them are gone.”
Yang and Kay were members of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club. The pair went to Wichita last week to attend the National Development Camp where young promising skaters receive training.
More than a dozen figure skaters were on the flight traveling back from the camp that was held along with the US Figure Skating Championships last week.
All 67 people on the plane and the military helicopter are believed to be dead, authorities said.
“This young team – Sean Kay and Angela Yang – they were so amazing,” Gudin told the News Journal.
“All the judges were so proud and they had such a big future. And what, all on the same plane?”
Footage of one of Kay and Yang’s final performances in November circulated online Thursday showing the duo twirl around freely on the ice while getting a round of applause from the crowd.
More than a dozen figure skaters were on the flight traveling back from a competition in Wichita, Kansas. UDFSC/InstagramA smiling Kay and Yang then gave each other a fist bump as their impressive scores were announced.
Yang started ice skating after she saw her siblings play ice hockey and wanted to try ice dancing, according to a spotlight story posted three months ago by the University of Delaware club.
The day of the crash she posted on Instagram about the experience at the development camp.
“Had so so much fun at camp!!! I’m really gonna miss my friends and all the great coaches! I can’t wait for next year!” she wrote.
Yang and Kay with their coach by their side as they compete in the Midwestern Sectional US Ice Dance Final. US Figure SkatingKay, along with his brother, Sean, participated in the US Figure Skating’s Excel Program in 2023 that opened the door to friendships and opportunities, their mother said in a US Figure Skating article.
“Their favorite part was meeting other boys who love the sport as much as they do,” Julia Kay said.
“The camp portion of the experience provided opportunities to skate, learn and make new friendships. Both boys have several friends from the Excel Program that they talk with on FaceTime.”
Kirsanov, the coach for Yang and Kay, was a professional ice dancer who represented the US, Azerbaijan and Russia, according to the News Journal. He last competed in 2004 and then began coaching and choreographing.
Gudin told the outlet he also coached their daughter who is now a professional skater.
The grieving wife is staying in DC as she waits for husband’s remains to recover.
“What I have to do, stay here forever?” she told the newspaper. “I just want my husband back.”
