In a heartbreaking twist to the already devastating Washington DC plane crash, two of the youngest victims have been identified as rising stars in the world of youth ice dancing.
Angela Yang and Sean Kay, a dedicated ice skating duo, were aboard the flight that collided with a military helicopter on January 29, killing all 67 people on both aircraft.
Yang and Kay were returning from the US Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, where they had recently competed.
The young skaters, who were part of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, were traveling with their coach, Alexandr Kirsanov, who also perished in the crash.
Yang’s family confirmed his death to local media, adding to the heartbreak of the tragedy.
Before their untimely deaths, Yang and Kay had been making waves in the figure skating world.
The duo had recently won first place in several categories at the 2025 Midwestern Sectional Singles and U.S. Ice Dance in Plano, Texas, further cementing their potential in the sport.
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Social media posts from the pair painted a picture of excitement and passion for their craft.
Just hours before boarding the fateful flight, Yang shared joyful photos from their time in Wichita, describing her experience at the camp as “so much fun” and expressing her excitement for the following year.
The tragedy has left the skating community devastated, with US Figure Skating issuing a statement expressing their grief and sending their condolences to the victims’ families.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the organization said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and release more information as it becomes available.”
The crash occurred when the American Airlines flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers.
