DC plane crash: Bay Area figure skaters mourn victims

The Bay Area figure skating community, like many people around the country, was in shock and grief after learning of the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter just outside Washington, D.C.

67 killed

What we know:

There were 60 travelers and four crew members on board the commercial flight late Wednesday when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers. Officials say there are no survivors.

Among the victims were teen figure skaters returning from a national meet.

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Bay Area figure skaters mourn victims

What they're saying:

"We always say if you know a skater, you know all of us. Six degrees of separation, I think they say," said Paige Scott, manager of the Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowl Center.

Skaters seemed to enjoy gliding across the ice at the sports center on Thursday, though some of that joy was tempered by grief.

At the center, 14 blue balloons were on display, honoring the 14 members of the U.S. Figure Skating community who were killed in Wednesday's collision above Ronald Reagan National Airport.

It appears the Blackhawk flew into the path of the American Airlines regional jet as it was approaching the airport to land. After colliding, the helicopter and passenger plane crashed into the Potomac River.

"We have so many friends on the East Coast and the West Coast that know each other and collaborate together. And we just all have a little dark spot in every rink in the country today," Scott said.

There were multiple social media posts during the day for the victims, some of whom were traveling home from a development camp in Wichita, Kansas.

SEE ALSO: Air traffic control audio in DC plane crash captures moments around collision

U.S. Figure Skating officials wrote on the social media platform X, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts."

The San Jose Sharks said the team was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy and offered condolences to all directly impacted.

"It really puts a spotlight on just how galvanized sport is, and how much of a uniter sport tends to be, that when an unspeakable tragedy like this takes place, it really brings the community together to mourn, but also to pay tribute often times to those that we lost," said Dr. Shaun Fletcher, a public relations and sport communications expert at San Jose State University.

At Sharks Ice in San Jose, while many skaters went through their routines, one skater said lacing up skates and taking to the ice is a way for her to handle the loss and begin the healing process.

"I think coming down and still going through what my daily plan would be is (in) memory for them," said Kristina Jaime. "I just pray that the (affected) families are gonna be okay."

What caused the crash? 

The National Transportation Safety Board is working to determine what caused the collision.

What we don't know:

Whether it was human error or a mechanical error that caused the deadly crash is yet to be determined. 

On Thursday evening, Peter Knudson, a NTSB spokesperson, confirmed crews recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the passenger airplane. 

Jesse Gary is a reporter based in the station's South Bay bureau. Follow him on the X platform, @jessegontv and on Facebook, @JesseKTVU

The Source: Information for this report comes from interviews with the Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowl Center and Dr. Shaun Fletcher of San Jose State University, along with social media posts from U.S. Figure Skating and the San Jose Sharks.

Washington, D.C.Sports