Many Washington-area sports teams have expressed their condolences after the fatal Wednesday, January 29, plane crash in the area.
“We join all of the DMV in grieving the tremendous loss of life in last night’s horrible accident over the Potomac River,” the Commanders wrote in a Thursday, January 30, X statement. “Our hearts break for the families of the passengers and crew of American Airlines flight 5342 and the crew of the Army helicopter based out of Davison Army Airfield, who tragically perished in the crash.”
The statement added, “Our entire community mourns with you. We are grateful to the first responders who worked throughout the night to support the search and rescue effort. May God bless all of the victims.”
News broke on Wednesday evening that an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, crashed in the Potomac River after a collision with a military helicopter. The flight reportedly serviced four crew members and 60 passengers, many of which were members of the U.S. Figure Skating Team.
U.S. Figure Skating announced that American Airlines Flight 5342 was carrying several of its athletes when it crashed into the Potomac River. The organization provided a statement to news outlet WUSA9 on Thursday, January 30. “U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which […]
The NFL team wasn’t the only athletic organization to address the accident. The Washington Nationals baseball team also released a statement.
“All of us at the Washington Nationals are devastated by the tragic events that unfolded last night near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” an X statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones. We extend our deepest gratitude to the heroic first responders who aided in the rescue and recovery mission.”
The city’s WNBA team, the Washington Mystics, also released a statement and postponed a press conference that was scheduled for Thursday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragedy,” the organization added.
Given that many figure skaters were on board the American flight, many former winter Olympians have similarly rallied around the victims’ loved ones.
“My heart is broken for our skating community,” gold medalist Tara Lipinski wrote via her Instagram Stories on Thursday. “It’s unimaginable the loss. We will mourn their loss and ALWAYS remember them. My heart is with all the families affected — that part I have no words for.”
Many of the junior figure skaters had traveled to Wichita for U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, which took place shortly after the national championship. Lipinski, 42, and fellow Olympian Johnny Weir served as broadcasters during the competition.
“I’m praying for everyone affected by this tragic accident,” Weir, 40, wrote via his Instagram Stories on Thursday. “Members of our skating family were on that flight returning home from Nationals in Wichita. We mourn their loss and pray for their families and loved ones.”
It has since been reported that six of the passengers were members of the Skating Club of Boston.