Fairfax County Figure Skaters Among Plane Crash Victims: What We Know

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County figure skaters and parents are among the victims presumed dead in the plane crash near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.

American Airlines has not yet released the names of the 64 passengers and crew who died, but relatives have identified Fairfax County victims to media outlets.

On Thursday, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid confirmed three students from the district and six parents died in the collision. Two of the parents were current or former Fairfax school district staff. Identifies of the victims were not released by FCPS.

American Airlines has not yet released names of the passengers, but loved ones have identified several Fairfax County victims to media outlets.

Figure skater Cory Haynos and his parents, Roger and Stephanie Haynos, had been on the flight, the Today Show reported, citing a cousin of Roger Haynos. The cousin, Matthew LaRaviere, said in a social media post that the figure skater and his parents were returning from Wichita.

According to the New York Times, Haynos completed the difficult triple axle jump at the national development camp on the same day of the plane crash.

"I’d been watching him work on it all week, just fighting to do it," Mark Mitchell, a U.S. Figure Skating coach at the development camp, told The New York Times. "So when I saw him, I just said, ‘Oh, my gosh! Cory just landed the triple axel!’ And he was so happy, just so happy."

Related: Loudoun Families Among D.C. Plane Crash Victims: What We Know

LaRaviere added that the family was hoping Cory Haynos would represent the U.S. in an upcoming Olympics.

"Cory was an amazing skater with a very bright future with the US Skating Team. Recently in a conversation with Roger, he was excited about his son's future," LaRaviere shared.

The Haynos family's neighbor Frank Quick told the New York Times that the parents worked for Fairfax County Public Schools. The family is survived by their other child, according to LaRaviere.

Franco Aparicio and his father Luciano Aparicio of Vienna were also on the flight, according to Vienna, VA Foodies group moderator Lydia Russo. Meal train and GoFundMe fundraisers have been created to support the Aparicio family.

Franco and Luciano Aparicio are survived by the mother and two daughters, according to the meal train fundraiser started by the Ashburn Ice House and Medstar figure skating communities.

"Franco will always be remembered as a gracious, disciplined and kind-hearted figure skater who pursued excellence in everything he did," the fundraiser said. "His dedication, work ethic, and unwavering support for his fellow skaters made him a cherished friend and role model in our skating community. His smile — bright, infectious, and full of warmth — lit up every rink he stepped into."

On Luciano Aparicio, the fundraiser said, "Luciano was the embodiment of a true skating dad — always present, always cheering, always offering encouragement to his children and their friends. His love and dedication to his family and the skating community were unmatched."

Eddie Zhou and his parents were also on the flight, neighbors and co-workers said via The New York Times. Like Haynos, Zhou was able to perform a triple axel at the national development camp. The New York Post said the family was from Fairfax.

Figure skaters like Haynos, Zhou and Apraicio brought joy to the skaters and coaches they worked with. Ashley Cain, a figure skater who has won national championships, shared a memory from the national development camp with Zhou and Aparicio.

"They gave us so much energy and passion which in return gave us so much excitement, joy and energy," Cain shared.

The Washington Figure Skating Club and Skating Club of Northern Virginia said in a statement the deadly crash "has shaken the local skating community" in the District, Virginia and Maryland community plus Boston and across the U.S.

Ilia Malinin, a Fairfax County Public Schools alumnus who is the only figure skater to complete a quadruple axle in competition, was at the U.S. championships in Wichita and took the same flight route to Reagan National Airport two days earlier. The figure skater from Vienna said he knew figure skaters lost in the crash, according to USA Today.

"It's really heartbreaking. And it's truly sad that you know these kids are really inspired and looking forward to becoming a better skater and just trying their best to push themselves and having this happen, it's a tragedy," Malinin told USA Today.

Fairfax Ice Arena noted many of the figure skaters lost in the plane crash trained at Northern Virginia rinks.

"We are mourning the heartbreaking loss of these individuals who were some of our nation's brightest rising stars in U.S. Figure Skating," the Fairfax Ice Arena said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to the victims' families, friends and the figure skating community at this time."

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the county would support the victims' families, first responders and other impacted community members in light of the deadly plane crash. He said the board and partners would ensure counseling and other resources are offered.

"Now, more than ever, we must stand together as a community," McKay said in a statement. "I ask that you join me in keeping the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers. In these difficult days ahead, let’s continue to support one another. Fairfax County stands ready to provide additional assistance as needed."

President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that there were no survivors — 60 passengers and four crew members were on the American Eagle Flight 5342, and three crew members were on the UH-60 Blackhawk military helicopter.

SEE ALSO:

• DC Plane Crash Updates: Black Boxes Found, Search For Victims Continue
• Olympians, Students Among DC Plane Crash Victims