Latest news with #DouglasLane
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Yahoo
What we know about the people who died in the D.C. plane crash
The remains of all 67 victims in the Washington, D.C., plane crash have been recovered as of Tuesday, nearly a week after an American Eagle flight out of Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Black Hawk helicopter midair. There were no survivors in the crash. Although some politicians have been quick to point fingers, authorities are still working to determine the cause of what was the deadliest aviation crash in the U.S. in more than two decades. Officials said all but one of the 67 victims have been identified so far. Here's who some of them are: Some of the youngest victims in the crash were elite figure skaters who were returning from a training camp in Wichita with their parents and their coaches: Angela Yang, 11, and Sean Kay, 11, were skating partners. Their mothers, Zheheng 'Lily' Li, 50, and Yulia Kay, 42, also died in the crash. Alydia Livingston, 11, and her sister Everly Livingston, 14, shared a skating Instagram account where they posted photos of their practice sessions and their wins. Their parents, Donna and Peter Livingston, both 48, had accompanied them on the trip. Olivia Eve Ter, 12, was a talented figure skater who was making significant gains in the sport, according to U.S. Figure Skating. Her mother, Olesya Taylor, 50, was also on the flight. Brielle Beyer, 12, was an 'extraordinary talent,' her coach Kalle Strid told The New York Times. Her mother, Justyna Magdalena Beyer, 42, was on the plane with her. Franco Aparicio, 14, was a bright young figure skating star, his coach Sergey Korovin told NBC Washington. His father, Luciano Aparicio, was supportive of his passion, Korovin added. Both father and son died in the crash. Jinna Han, 13, was a 'star skater,' her coach, Olga Ganicheva, told NBC Boston. 'Her nickname was 'Jinna Starina,' like a star,' she said. Jinna's mother, Jin Han, 49, was also on the plane. Edward Zhou, 16, was described by U.S. Figure Skating as a fearless athlete and a team player. His parents, Kaiyan Mao, 52, and Yu Zhou, 60, also died in the crash. Cory Haynos, 16, was the intermediate bronze medalist at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final, according to U.S. Figure Skating. His parents, Roger and Stephanie Haynos, both 56, accompanied him on the trip to Kansas. Spencer Lane, 16, an adoptee from South Korea, was a beloved member of the figure skating community in Rhode Island, Douglas Lane, his father, told WPRI. His mother, Christine Lane, 49, was also on the plane. Douglas Lane said in a statement that the family is 'devastated' by their loss. Sasha Kirsanov, 46, who coached Yang and Kay, emigrated from Russia to the U.S. in the 1990s and was a passionate coach, his former colleagues at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club told CBS Baltimore. Inna Volyanskaya, 59, who coached Aparicio and Everly Livingston, was a former pairs skater for the Soviet Union and performed with Disney on Ice before becoming a coach in 2002, according to U.S. Figure Skating. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov: The couple, two-time Olympians and former world champions, trained young skaters at the Skating Club of Boston. Their 24-year-old son, Maxim Naumov, had competed in Wichita and taken an earlier flight home, the club's CEO, Doug Zeghibe, told reporters. Seven men who traveled to Great Bend, Kansas, for a hunting trip were also on the American Eagle flight when it crashed: Michael Stovall (40), Jon Boyd (40), Charlie McDaniel (44), Alex Huffman (34), Jesse Pitcher (30), Steve Johnson (45) and Tommy Clagett (43). The men were clients of a hunting club called Fowl Plains. The organization said in a post on Instagram that the men had hunted with them for years. 'We've spent this past week, sharing the blind, laughing, talking about our families, and sharing memories. We are completely heartbroken,' it said. Kiah Duggins, 30, a civil rights attorney, was set to start a teaching position at Howard University. A Harvard Law School alumna and former president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, she helped protect families from unlawful evictions during the pandemic. Grace Maxwell, 20, a junior at Cedarville University's engineering school, was returning from her grandfather's funeral in Kansas. Vikesh Patel, 33, was an engineer for GE Aerospace. He and his wife had married in April 2024. Wendy Jo Shaffer, 35, was a mother of two. Her husband described her in a statement shared with Fox News as an 'amazing woman' and 'the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for.' Casey Crafton, 40, was a father of three who practiced martial arts, CT Insider reported. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Crafton moved to his wife's home state of Connecticut. Asra Hussain, 26, last texted her husband, Hamaad Raza, to let him know that her flight was landing in 20 minutes. Raza was waiting at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to pick her up. He told NBC Washington that Hussain was the 'kindest person I've ever met.' Chris Collins, 42, and Melissa Nicandri, 28, both analysts with Moody's, were on a work trip. Collins was an active volunteer at a dog shelter in Stamford, Connecticut, CBS New York reported. Nicandri's boyfriend told Gothamist that she loved living in New York City and was a 'truly special person.' Sarah Lee Best and Elizabeth Keys, both 33, were colleagues at a Washington, D.C., law firm, Wilkinson Stekloff. Best, a Tennessee native, was a 'brilliant, kind, and compassionate soul,' her former law professor said. Keys' family said in a statement that she was 'strong and fearless' and 'embraced life at full speed.' Keys turned 33 the day she was killed. Bob and Lori Schrock, both 58, were married since December 1988. The couple had a successful farming business together. 'They ran marathons, but not together, as that was the key to a happy marriage along with not using a double kayak,' their obituaries said. Lindsey Fields, 40, was a devoted mother and a biology professor at Butler Community College in Kansas. Her family has set up a scholarship in her name for science students. Crew members on American Eagle Flight 5342 included two pilots and two flight attendants: Jonathan Campos, 34, was a thrill-seeker and a 'damn good pilot,' his former fiancée, Nicole Suissa, told NBC New York. Sam Lilley, 28, took after his father's love for aviation and he was engaged to be married, his father, Timothy Lilley, told Fox Orlando. Danasia Brown Elder, 34, was dedicated to her job as a flight attendant. She had a husband and two children, and she loved her family 'tremendously,' her former classmate told WCNC. Ian Epstein, 53, was not originally scheduled to work on Flight 5342 but had changed his shift to do so, his ex-wife Debi Epstein told People. He loved to travel and had a big personality, she said. The Army released the names of the crew members on the Black Hawk helicopter last week. Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39; Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28; and Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, 28, were identified as those on board the article was originally published on
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Authorities work to recover crash victims, identify those lost
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Authorities are working around the clock to recover victims and notify families following the fatal collision of an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River. As the investigation unfolds, more details are emerging about the lives lost in the tragedy. Among the victims was 16-year-old Spencer Lane, one of 15 figure skaters aboard the flight. His father, Douglas Lane, described the devastating loss. 'His coaches were also on the flight with him,' Lane said. 'Wonderful people, former world champions from Russia and some other skaters.' Two Russian world champion skaters were among the 67 people killed in the crash. The U.S. figure skating community is mourning their loss, with former Olympic skater Dr. Tenley Albright expressing disbelief. 'I really can't believe that it happened,' Albright said. 'There are families too.' Authorities have also identified American Airlines crew member Ian Epstein and three soldiers who were operating the military helicopter as among those killed. The National Transportation Safety Board acknowledged the widespread grief, stating, 'A lot of people are hurting today.' The Trump administration has set up a family crisis center in Bethesda, Maryland, to assist those affected by the tragedy. 'It's an unbearable sorrow,' said Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), who, along with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) is working to provide answers for their constituents. The flight was a nonstop route from Wichita, Kansas, and its loss is being deeply felt in the close-knit community. 'All of us are going to know Kansans who've experienced tragedy,' Moran said. 'We'll know them personally; we'll know their families.' Back in Rhode Island, the Lane family is leaning on one another for support. Douglas Lane, who adopted his two sons from South Korea, said he is focusing on celebrating the journey they shared. 'I guess we just have to celebrate the journey that's taken us here so far,' he said. White House sources say President Trump plans to meet with victims' families when the time is appropriate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘He was a force of nature': Father of DC crash victim mourns son
(NewsNation) — Douglas Lane, who lost his son, Spencer, in the Washington, D.C., plane crash, said he had dreams of competitive figure skating. '(Spencer) was really just kind of a force of nature,' said Douglas Lane. His father said that despite getting a relatively late start in figure skating, Spencer was determined to follow his passion. 'Even though people train since they're a small child, and it takes them years and years to develop skills, he just started,' said Douglas. 'And three years later, he's in Wichita, Kansas, on the national development team for U.S. figure skating, training with former world champions.' Trump suggests FAA's diversity efforts caused safety issues in crash The FAA said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. ET in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over 3 miles south of the White House and the Capitol. American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 mph when it rapidly lost altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder. Spencer's coaches were also on board the flight, according to his father. 'Wonderful people,' Douglas said of the coaches. 'Former world champions from Russia and some other skaters. And so it's just devastating.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
30-01-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
What we know about the six crash victims with ties to Skating Club of Boston
Spencer Lane was a growing presence in social media on Tik Tok and Instagram where he documented his growth as a competitive ice skater, a sport he started participating in just three years ago, according to his father, Douglas Lane. Advertisement 'He just had amazing athletic abilities,' Douglas Lane said of his son. 'You couldn't make him do something, but if he was like, 'Hey, that's interesting to me,' you couldn't stop him. And figure skating is, I think, the best example of that.' He placed first in November's regional championships in the intermediate men category. Like Jinna Han and the other young skaters chosen to attend the training camp, Lane was considered a potential rising star in the highly competitive sport. Spencer's interest in skating had been inspired by watching Nathan Chen at the Olympics. He was attending high school on line so he could devote as much time as possible to training at the Norwood rink five days a week, his father said. Lane was 'in the best way possible ... a crazy kid,' said Zeghibe with a smile. Despite not skating for long, Lane was 'highly talented, like incredibly talented' and 'just rocketing' to the top of the sport. Lane also posted a video showing Flight 5342 as it departed Wichita's Eisenhower Airport Wednesday. Christine Lane often shuttled her son from the family's home in Barrington, R.I. to the Norwood ice rink. Christine and her husband, Douglas, had adopted Spencer from South Korea where he was born. Lane, 49, was the mother of two and had recently obtained a real estate license. She was recently hired as a sales associate for Residential Properties, a Providence-based real estate firm. Advertisement 'We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the tragic news of the accident involving Christine Lane,' Ian Barnacle, Barrington sales manager, said in a statement to the Globe. 'She quickly became a cherished member of our team. Douglas Lane described his wife as a 'creative powerhouse,' who studied visual design at Syracuse University. She went on to a career in graphic design for years before chasing other creative pursuits. 'She was an outstanding quilter, and spent a lot of time sewing and quilting, volunteered at the local animal rescue in Rhode Island, working with people to place pets into adoptive homes, and recently, just got her real estate license and joined Residential Properties here in Barrington, as a sales agent, was very excited about that new chapter,' he said. Early in their relationship they decided they wanted to grow their family through adoption. 'It was, you know, a different journey into motherhood, but one that she really embraced and loved,' Lane said. 'She just gave parenting her all and was really good at it.' Jinna Han competed in the novice women free skate single category for the club including at the US Figure Skating 2025 Eastern Sectional held in Norwood. She finished second in the short program. She finished Han was 'just a wonderful kid,' said Zeghibe, recalling her as a 'great athlete, great competitor, loved by all.' Jin Han, Jinna's mother and strong supporter of other skaters at the club. Advertisement She was 'one of the most wonderful, pleasant, polite, smiling — just fantastic, fantastic member of the club,' Zeghibe recalled. 'Never a discouraging word, always appreciative, always supportive of not just Jinna, her daughter, but every athlete.' The Han family were residents of Mansfield where Town Manager Kevin J. Dumas expressed sorrow on behalf of residents and town officials. 'This horrific tragedy has hit home just as the terrible loss to our community during the attack on September 11, 2001,' he wrote in a statement. A neighbor, Debbie Herrera, described the family as friendly, always willing to say 'hi' in the hall or outside in the parking lot. The Han could often been seen shuffling in and out of the building carrying Jinna's ice skating gear. The family, she said, left her with the impression that 'they were on a mission' to achieve something. 'They were always just a nice family,' she said. 'Why them? Why anybody?' , were originally from Russia where they represented that country in the 1994 Olympics, the couple were veteran coaches in multiple skating styles. Their son, Maxim Naumov, was competing at the US Championships in Kansas in the senior men's event. He placed fourth and traveled home Sunday before his parents. 'My heart breaks for my skating family today and my thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by this horrible tragedy,' Advertisement John R. Ellement of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. (Information from Globe reporting was used in this account.) Travis Andersen can be reached at
