31-01-2025
Arizona figure skating coach mourns 'family' lost in DC plane crash
The collision of a passenger plane and U.S. Army helicopter that killed 67 people hit very close to home for one Gilbert figure skating coach.
Laura Patterson, a coach at AZ Ice in Gilbert and a US Figure Skating official, helped judge the U.S. National Competition in Wichita, Kansas last week. The competition included some in the figure skating community who were on the plane that crashed into the Potomac after it collided with the helicopter.
"We lost family and I'm sorry," Patterson said in an interview with ABC15.
She continued: "When we talk about 'this is a family,' we spent so much time with our athletes. Hours, every day, 6-7 times a week. We travel with them. It's more than our normal families. It's heartbreaking when a piece of this is now missing."
Related: Sky Harbor airport flights impacted after plane crash near Washington, D.C.
Patterson told ABC15 that she took some of her Arizona students to the event in Wichita to see the skating competition last week.
The plane crash has rocked the entire figure skating community.
"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.
Patterson hopes to honor those who died by persevering through the grief.
"Hopefully we can all continue with their love and passion for the sport, just as much,' Patterson told ABC15.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: DC plane crash: Arizona figure skating coach mourns 'family' lost
