Young US Ice Dancers Won Gold Before Tragic Plane Crash in Washington, DC – Watch Their Final Performance

Young US Ice Dancers Won 1st Place Before Tragic Washington, DC Plane Crash – See Their Video

Already a star at the age of eleven. They won a major competition and skated like champs. However, a horrific accident ended their goal, leaving the skating community in despair.

On Wednesday night, a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet collided over the Potomac River, turning a regular flight into a nightmare. There were no survivors after all 67 passengers on the aircraft were slain.

Search crews, including divers, started pulling bodies out of the cold waters on Thursday. Russian and American figure skaters who had competed in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita were among those eliminated.

Coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov of Delaware died with his pupils Sean Kay and Angela Yang. Natalia Gudin, the coach’s wife, attested to their passing. Speaking from her temporary residence in Washington, D.C., Gudin revealed that her husband’s body was still missing.

“We always use American Airlines when we go to competition,” Gudin stated. “This time they go without me, and all of them are gone.” Gudin cried as he remembered hearing about the collision and the tragic deaths of the young skaters who showed great promise.

“This young team, Sean Kay and Angela Yang, they were so amazing,” Gudin stated. “The judges had a bright future and were all quite proud. “All on the same plane, too?” She went on, “For me, it’s a triple” loss.

A Dream Cut Short: Angela Yang and Sean’s Skating Adventure Kay
Angela and Sean were meant to be together. They had already made a significant impact on the figure skating community at the age of eleven. At the 2025 Midwestern Sectional U.S. Ice Dance Final, they took first place in the Juvenile Dance PD 1 category.

They were a promising duo in competitive ice dancing because of their commitment, skill, and love for the sport. When Angela first started skating, she danced alone, but she always wished she had a partner. She was looking for someone who was as energetic as she was.

Her mother, Lily, took a risk as a result of that dream. In order for Angela to train with some of the top trainers in the nation, she packed up their lives in Maryland and relocated to Delaware. Lily homeschooled Angela in order to support her daughter’s goals and give her the time she needed to hone her skills.

While his wife raised their three children alone, Angela’s father continued to work relentlessly from a distance in China to provide for his family.

Skating was a family activity for Sean. His older sister was the reason he put on skates for the first time. He is the second oldest of four siblings. But before long, he was surpassing not only her but also his peers.

Sean was winning solo dancing competitions all over the nation by the time he got to the juvenile level. His goals went beyond the juvenile and intermediate levels, and his talent was apparent. He intended to continue competing with Angela in intermediate the following season and go up to junior solo dance.

While working long nights at the hospital, Sean’s mother, Julia, a committed night nurse, homeschooled all four of her kids. She was his staunchest ally, ensuring he received the time, instruction, and support he needed to pursue his goals.

The 2025 Midwestern Sectional Final victory for Angela and Sean was just the start. Tragically, that promising future was taken away from them.

After attending a developmental skating camp in Wichita, they were returning home on American Airlines Flight 5342. Their loving moms, Julia and Lily, who had always supported them, were also on the aircraft. Sean leaves behind his father and three siblings, while Angela is left with her father and two siblings.

A devastating blow to the community of figure skaters
Angela and Sean weren’t the only victims of the catastrophe. Numerous competitors, coaches, and family members were killed when American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into a military helicopter on Wednesday night outside Washington, D.C., leaving the figure skating community in despair.

Spencer Lane, 16, his mother, and two Russian coaches from the Skating Club of Boston were among the casualties.

One 13-year-old girl, Jinna Han, was also lost. She was traveling with her mother, Jin, and other skaters from Boston when the crash claimed their lives. She was a budding talent from Mansfield.

The tragic incident has tarnished the sport and rocked the figure skating community in the United States. The organization acknowledged that several members of its athlete and coaching network were among the victims, according to Golden Skate, a news website covering figure skating.

The loss also affects Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, two highly regarded Russian coaches. Both of these were quite active in the global figure skating community. Rafael Arutyunyan, a famous instructor and close friend, expressed his sorrow over the huge vacuum left by their deaths.

He had decided to stay in California and was insulated from the tragedy, even though he had skaters competing in Wichita.

In order to honor the lives lost and show their sadness, bereaved relatives and friends took to social media as word of the tragedy spread. A heartbroken relative paid a heartfelt homage to his loved ones on Facebook.

“My cousin Roger Haynos, his wife Stephanie Branton Haynos, and their son Cory passed away tonight, and their loss has devastated me. He wrote, “They perished in the plane crash last night close to Washington, DC.”

Tributes to the victims of the horrific tragedy also poured into social media. People from all across the world shared their shock and sadness as they grieved for the victims.”So depressing. In honor of Angela and Sean, someone wrote, “They were so young 💔.” Additionally, one person said, “May their memories be forever a blessing.”

Many people were saddened by the loss of these gifted skaters. “My Gd had such extraordinary talent. One commenter said, “What a devastating loss in every way [sic].”

Others found it difficult to express their feelings. “How heartbreaking, OMG. One person wrote, “I’m devastated.” “Wow… that is just incredibly sad,” said another sympathetic person. It’s heartbreaking, but I’m sending love to all of their families.

The figure skating community and others have been rocked by the tragedy. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is looking into what caused the collision while recovery efforts continue. The goal is to give the bereaved families and the skating community some answers.