Delaware Mourns Victims of Tragic Plane Crash

The University of Delaware (UD) is grieving the loss of former UD Figure Skating Club coach Sasha Kirsanov, who was among the victims of the fatal plane crash on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. University President Dennis Assanis confirmed Kirsanov’s passing in a heartfelt statement.

On Thursday night, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) expressed his condolences, emphasizing the devastating impact of the tragedy.

“I’m devastated to hear the news that at least three Delawareans died during last night’s air collision. Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay, and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their passion for figure skating. It is a tragedy that none of them returned home to our state,” Coons wrote. “Delaware is a state of neighbors, and tonight we hold all of our neighbors a little closer. My heart goes out to Sasha’s wife Natalia, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, and every other Delawarean touched by the three of them.”

The university has offered counseling and support resources for those impacted by the tragedy.

Philadelphia-Area Skating Community Mourns

The Philadelphia Skating Club & Humane Society in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, confirmed that several of its members were among the victims of the crash. The accident occurred when an American Airlines passenger jet collided mid-air with a military helicopter over the Potomac River.

“We are devastated by the loss of so many talented skaters, their coaches, and their families,” the club said in a statement. “This tragedy has deeply affected our community, and we grieve alongside the entire U.S. figure skating family.”

While the club has not publicly released the names of its members who perished, skating director Regina Barr spoke about the collective sorrow.

“We have a member whose skating partner was on the flight. They had just formed a promising new ice dance team,” Barr told NBC10. “Everyone is in shock, and we are coming together to support those closest to the victims.”

The club also shared that a recently joined family and a skater who performed at its 175th Anniversary Gala were among those lost.

“We share this heartbreak with the entire U.S. Figure Skating community. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.”

U.S. Figure Skating released a statement confirming that multiple members of its community were on board the ill-fated flight, returning home from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas.

Kansas Couple Among the Victims

Lori Schrock, 56, and Robert “Bob” Schrock, 58, of Kiowa, Kansas, were also among the passengers. The couple was en route to Washington, D.C., to visit their daughter, Ellie, a junior at Villanova University.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Ellie Schrock recalled her excitement to see her parents before the tragedy unfolded.

“I knew their flight number before I even saw the news,” she said, heartbroken by the loss.

Skating Clubs Across the Region Offer Condolences

Other Philadelphia-area skating organizations expressed their sorrow over the devastating loss.

Lisa Shaw, Figure Skating Director at IceWorks Skating Complex, said, “Figure skating is more than just a sport—it’s a close, tight-knit family. While not all of those lost were club members here, many trained and competed at our rink. Our hearts go out to their families, and we offer our full support during this difficult time.”

The Skating Club of Southern New Jersey also shared its condolences.

“We stand in sorrow and solidarity with our fellow skaters, coaches, and families,” club president Robin Hauth stated. “The figure skating community is built on passion, dedication, and an unbreakable spirit. In this moment of grief, we honor that spirit and extend our love and support to those who need it.”

Investigation into the Crash Underway

The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the crash as the plane made its final approach to Reagan National Airport. Authorities are working to determine the cause of the collision and prevent future tragedies.

As the skating community, families, and friends mourn, support continues to pour in from across the nation, honoring the lives lost in this devastating accident.


 

Dustin Miller, an IT professional from El Dorado, was on the plane from Wichita to DC on his way to Rochester, NY, for a work trip. He was 44 years old. His sister, Kristen Miller-Zahn, provided the following statement:

“I speak for my family when I say Dustin was the funniest guy in the room, he was also the most generous and loving. He had a way of making people feel at home in his presence. He wasn’t just a brother or a son, he was also each of our best friend. We all had a unique and special bond with him. He would do anything for the people he loved, and for people he didn’t even know so well. 

My brother loved to travel, camp, fish, and man could he smoke meats. He enjoyed BBQing for others and enjoyed spending time with people, he would want everyone that knew him to keep it light. He would be so moved by the outpouring of love and support from people right now, helping us all navigate this tragedy.  

He was a HUGE Chiefs fan so he would want us to watch the Super Bowl game and root for the Chiefs. He was looking forward to that game! He loved us, he would want us all to love each other and focus on what’s important, Family. My heart goes out to every family member of this tragedy, it does hurt so bad.”

PJ Diaz’s family has identified a Wichita man as one of the 67 people on Flight 5342.

“I don’t post often but my heart is broken and reaching out for prayers for me and my family,” his mother, Linda, said in a statement. “My son PJ was on the flight to DC that crashed. Please pray God gives us strength to get through this devastating time. I love you PJ and always will.”

Chris Collins, The Collins family said in a statement that Chris Collins, a Massachusetts native, was a beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle.

“Chris was a true adventurer with a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of animals,” the family said. “His talent as a financial professional brought him to New York City, where he fell in love with a city girl, his cherished wife Jen. While Jen and Chris built a joy-filled city life together, Chris’ call to the outdoors never wavered, whether it was hiking Lögberg in Iceland, camping and rafting in the Great Smoky Mountains, skiing and snowboarding, and most of all, enjoying the coastal outdoor landscape of Brewster, MA and the rest of Cape Cod.”

“Chris’ kindness and compassion extended to everyone, whether you were a family member, friend, or one of the many strangers he connected with during his outdoor adventures,” the family said. “He will be in our hearts forever.”

Collins worked for Moody’s and died alongside his colleague, Melissa Nicandri, according to the company.

“The Moody’s family mourns the loss of two of our best, Chris Collins and Melissa Nicandri,” the company said. “Chris and Melissa were cherished colleagues who embodied our values and enriched our lives with kindness and warmth.”

Vikesh Patel, an employee for GE Aerospace, had been in Cowley County for work before boarding Flight 5342 on Wednesday night. GE Aerospace, an aircraft engine supplier headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, has a plant at Strother Field, midway between Arkansas City and Winfield.

Bob and Lori Schrock, A couple from Kiowa, Kansas, are two of the victims of the tragic American Airlines flight that crashed in DC Wednesday night. They were going to visit their daughter who goes to college on the east coast.

“When I heard this morning about what happened I went in and told the guys there’s a couple of people named Bob and Lori that we get the privilege of riding horses and experiencing our program and they didn’t do it because they know you. They did it because they didn’t know you but they loved you anyway,” Simpson said. “I never want to forget that.”

Lindsey (Carter) Fields, a biology professor and department chair at Butler Community College, was among the 60 passengers on Flight 5342. The association said she was president-elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers and traveling to represent the NABT community and advocate for excellence in life science education.

Butler CC provided the following statement:

“With broken hearts we send our condolences to her family and friends, and the students, faculty and staff whom we know without a doubt were positively impacted by Lindsey’s energy and dedication to her craft.

“Lindsey was a colleague, friend, and educator who dedicated her wisdom and talents to changing students’ lives every day. We owe her much gratitude for sharing her light with us and we will forever feel this loss. We send much love and support to her family and friends during this most difficult time.

“Counseling services remain available, free of charge, for any student, staff or faculty member needing assistance during this time. If needed, please do not hesitate to reach out to Nancy Hamm at 316-322-3162 or email nhamm2@butlercc.edu.

“Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay, and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their passion for figure skating,” Coons posted on X Thursday. “It is a tragedy that none returned home to our state.”

According to the university’s president, Dennis Assanis, Kirsanov was a former skating coach for the University of Delaware’s figure skating club.

“Sasha was more than just a coach – he was a mentor, a friend, and a light in the skating world,” Melissa Maldonado, the school’s figure skating club president, said. “His passion for this sport was contagious, and his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering belief in his skaters helped so many of us grow both on and off the ice.”

Grace Maxwell, 20, was an engineering student from Wichita, Kansas, who was aboard American Airlines 5432. Maxwell was a mechanical engineering major. She recently signed up to create a hand-stabilizing device to help a disabled child feed himself without assistance from others. She had attended her grandfather’s funeral on Tuesday.

“As you can imagine, the past 24 hours have been very difficult for the Maxwell family and the Cedarville University community. As a university, we do not desire to turn this tragic event into anything more than a way to honor Grace, her family, and Jesus,”

The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters identified the five members of their organization who died in the mid-air collision near Washington, D.C.

  • Jesse Pitcher, 30 years old – 8 years of service – UA Local 5
  • Charles “Charlie” McDaniel, 44 years old – 22 years of service – UA Local 602
  • Jonathan D. Boyd, 40 years old – 20 years of service – UA Local 602
  • Michael “Mikey” Stovall, 40 years old – 19 years of service – UA Local 602
  • Alexander “Alex” Huffman, 34 years old – 9 years of service – UA Local 602

“May God bless each of our fallen Brothers and all those who knew and loved them,” the Union said in a statement.

Peter and Donna Livingston and their two children, 11-year-old Alydia and 14-year-old Everly Livingston, represented the Washington Figure Skating Club at last week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. They were from Ashburn, Virginia. In the girls’ final Instagram post, shared five days before the crash, the two pose at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

First Officer Sam Lilley was piloting the American Airlines flight that was minutes away from a safe landing when a collision with an Army helicopter plunged both aircraft and everyone on board into Virginia’s Potomac River. Lilley’s father, Timothy Lilley, said:

“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” in a Facebook post Thursday. “Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking.” Lilley, 28, was the first officer on the flight, and was “doing great in his career and personal life.”“It is so devastating to lose someone that is loved so much,” Timothy Lilley said. “This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life,”

The captain of the American Airlines flight involved in Wednesday’s mid-air collision was Jonathan Campos.

The grieving father, who served as a helicopter pilot in the Army for 20 years, said he believes the commercial jet involved in the incident followed proper procedures.“From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right,”. “The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead.”

Ian Epstein, 53, was a flight attendant on the American Airlines flight involved in the deadly collision. Epstein, who had been a flight attendant for several years, leaves behind two children and two stepchildren, according to Bloom.

“My brother was a wonderful, wonderful man. He loved life. He loved traveling. He loved his job. He loved his family. And he will be sorely missed,” Bloom said.

Asra Hussain Raza, 26, Raza was a Washington, DC-based consultant who traveled to Wichita twice a month to work on a turnaround project for a hospital there, her father-in-law said. She would often call him at the end of his late emergency room shifts to make sure he stayed awake on the drive home

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves. A United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed at approximately 9 p.m. while performing a training mission near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Jan. 29. There was a three-person crew on board the helicopter. The UH-60 helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, have not yet been recovered; therefore, duty status whereabouts are unknown.

Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, a soldier on board the military helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, is being remembered by a fellow service member as “one of the finest, most disciplined, committed trainers” he has ever worked with.

Josh Muehlendorf, Chief Warrant Officer 5 with the US Army, worked with O’Hara as a senior instructor pilot of the battalion in which O’Hara was. O’Hara graduated from Parkview High School in Gwinnett County, Georgia, in 2014

Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28 years old and a native of Durham, N.C. She was a distinguished military graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was commissioned 2019 as an active-duty aviation officer. With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by her battalion’s most senior and experienced pilots.