In a heartbreaking tragedy, 14-year-old Everly and 11-year-old Alydia Livingston, along with their parents, Peter Livingston and Donna Smojice Livingston, have been confirmed among the victims of a fatal plane crash near Washington, D.C. The family, who were traveling back from the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, were aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 when it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on the evening of January 29.

The sisters, who were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, had recently posted a joyful message on social media, posing together at a skating event. The post included a playful caption, jokingly questioning if US Figure Skating was ready for the “Livingston” presence at Nationals. Tragically, that would be their final post before their lives were cut short. The crash claimed the lives of the entire family, along with other passengers and crew.

At approximately 9 p.m. local time, the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet struck a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as it was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport. The collision resulted in the loss of 64 lives, including athletes, coaches, and their families, all affiliated with the figure skating community. Many had just participated in the National Development Camp held alongside the championships, making the accident all the more devastating for the sport’s community.

The recovery mission, which began immediately after the crash, led to the recovery of 28 bodies by the following Thursday. Among the victims were several prominent members of the figure skating community, including Spencer Lane and his mother Christine, Jinna Han and her mother Jin Han, and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, all from the Boston Skating Club. Other victims included athletes from the Northern Virginia and University of Delaware Figure Skating Clubs, highlighting the widespread impact of this tragedy on the figure skating community.

In response to the devastating loss, US Figure Skating released a statement on social media, expressing their deep sorrow and sending their condolences to the affected families. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization stated. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the cause of the crash, with the NTSB leading the inquiry.