Philadelphia-Area, and Delaware Residents Among Victims in Flight 5342 Crash

Source: OLIVER CONTRERAS / Getty

Members of a Philadelphia-area skating club, two children from Delaware and a former University of Delaware Figure Skating coach are among the victims of Wednesday night’s deadly plane crash in Washington D.C. that left 67 people dead.

The crash, which occurred just moments before the plane was due to land at Reagan National Airport, sent both aircraft hurtling into the icy waters of the Potomac River.

Grainy video footage from nearby webcams captured the catastrophic convergence, freezing the moment tragedy unfolded.

Philly-area victims killed in crash

The Philadelphia Skating Club & Humane Society, based in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, confirmed to NBC10 on Thursday (Jan. 30) that members of their club were aboard flight 5342.

“We feel immense grief at the loss of so many talented skaters, their coaches, and families,” the Philadelphia Skating Club & Humane Society said in a statement that was also posted to social media.

“Sadly, one of the families lost just became members of our club and another shared his talent with us at our recent 175th Anniversary Gala,” the statement said. “We share this loss and grief with the entire USFS Community. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone during this tragic time.”

Delaware victims killed in crash

The president of the University of Delaware, Dennis Assanis, released a statement confirming that former UD Figure Skating coach Sasha Kirsanov was on the plane when it crashed on Wednesday.

“At this time, we are aware that Sasha Kirsanov, a former UD Figure Skating Club coach, was on the airplane. We believe two young skaters who were members of the UD Figure Skating Club also were on board. It is unknown at this time whether these young skaters — who are not UD students — were accompanied by their parents or other chaperones.” president Assanis said in a

The two young skaters were later identified as Sean Kay and Angela Yang.

Thursday night, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) released a statement on the victims.

“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.”.

Information from this article was sourced from NBC Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Delaware residents among Flight 5342 victims