Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding devastated over figure skaters in fatal D.C. plane crash
Correction/Clarification: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified one of the victims. Christine Lane was on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a helicopter Wednesday night.
The figure skating world was left in shock Thursday following a tragic plane crash near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport. Reports revealed that several members of the figure skating community were on board the American Airlines flight, which collided with a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night.
The skaters were returning from a national development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. The exact number of victims connected to figure skating remains unknown.
Many of the sport’s biggest stars shared their grief and support for the victims. Olympic gold medalist and NBC analyst Tara Lipinski, along with her broadcast partner and former skater Johnny Weir, posted messages on Instagram. Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Wagner also expressed condolences, while former Olympian Tonya Harding shared her devastation on X (formerly Twitter).
However, the most emotional response came from two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
Nancy Kerrigan Mourns Skating Community Losses
During a press conference Thursday, Kerrigan revealed she personally knew at least two skaters on the flight: Spencer Lane and Jinna Hahn. Their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Hahn, were reportedly also among the victims.
“I’ve never seen anyone love skating as much as these two,” Kerrigan said, holding back tears. “That’s what makes this so painful. When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s an even bigger blow.”
Six Victims from Skating Club of Boston
Kerrigan’s ties to the tragedy run even deeper. A longtime member of the Skating Club of Boston, she was devastated to learn that six of the confirmed victims were from the same club. Though she never skated at the club’s newer facilities, the loss still hit close to home.
“Our community is pretty small,” she said, visibly shaken. “So, it’s not just one place that’s hurting—it’s every rink that has skaters. This is tragic.”
Despite her grief, Kerrigan admitted she felt strange doing interviews so soon after the crash. Still, she believed it was important to speak out in support of her devastated community.
