DC Plane Crash Victims From NoVA Ice Skating Community Honored At Event

WASHINGTON, DC — Northern Virginia residents who died in the Jan. 29 plane crash near Reagan National Airport were among those from the figure skating community honored Sunday at a star-studded event hosted by Olympic champions Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi.

The performance-filled Legacy on Ice event at Capital One Arena honored the 67 victims who died Jan. 29 in the American Airlines flight collision with an Army Blackhawk helicopter. Twenty-eight of the plane passengers were figure skaters, family and coaches returning from a development camp for promising skaters in Wichita, Kansas. The best young skaters at the development camp were training for the future chance at competing at the Olympics.

U.S. Figure Skating coordinated the event with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which operates Capital One Arena. Sunday's event provided all proceeds to the U.S. Figure Skating Family Support Fund, Greater Washington Community Foundation’s “DCA Together Relief Fund” and DC Fire & EMS Foundation, via the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation.

Boitano and Yamaguchi said the event not only honored the 67 victims. but also the first responders who rushed to the crash site in the Potomac River.

"When we learned of the tragedy at Reagan National Airport, we were devastated," said Yamaguchi at the event. "When we learned of the 28 of the 67 lives lost were from the skating world, we were even more heartbroken."

"Although we can't reverse the effects of the tragedy, we are not powerless," added Boitano. "As skaters, we have learned to be resilient and to always find a path forward that is positive."

Dozens of ice skating stars, including two-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Chen, two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, Olympic champion Peggy Fleming and more, made appearances in the program to pay tribute to the victims.

Fleming introduced a performance by Isabella Aparicio, relative of two plane crash victims — her brother Franco Aparicio and father Luciano Aparicio of Vienna. Aparicio skated to a recording of "Pachelbel's Canon in D," ending the performance in tears.

NoVA Skaters Remembered

Sarah Everhardt, the 2025 Four Continents Bronze Medalist, performed in memory of Skating Club of Northern Virginia families — Brielle Beyer and her mother, Justyna, of Aldie, Eddie Zhou and his parents Kaiyan Mao and Yu Zhou of Fairfax, and Cory Haynos and his parents, Roger and Stephanie Haynos, of Annandale.

Another performer was Ilia Malinin, a Marshall High School graduate from Vienna and 2024 world champion, who became the only figure skater to complete the quadruple axle in competition. Malinin took the same flight route from Wichita to Reagan National Airport two days before the deadly plane crash while returning from the national championship.

Team USA member Sofia Bezkorovainaya performed to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in memory of parents Donna and Peter Livingston and their daughters, Everly and Alydia, from Ashburn, Franco Aparicio and his father Luciano Aparicio of Vienna, and Ashburn Ice House coach and former Soviet Union figure skater Inna Volanskaya.

Members of the Washington Figure Skating Club joined Bezkorovainaya in honor of Coach Inna Volanskaya, set to Phil Collins' "You'll Be In My Heart." At the end, Bezkorovainaya held up white roses to the sky.

Skater Remembered For Her Energy, Kindness

Capital Theatre on Ice, a team representing the Washington Figure Skating Club, also skated in honor of the Livington sisters. Johnny Weir, a three-time U.S. champion introducing the performance, spoke highly about the Livingston family.

"It's rare to meet such a kind family through and through," said Weir. "Everly was one of the shyest skaters that I ever met, but when she got something, the smile she would give us lit up the room. And Alydia was a firework with so much energy."

Another highlight of the program was a performance by former Team USA member Yebin Mok, who coached a team of skaters that included some victims, and fellow skaters. The skaters performed to "Halo," which was the last song they performed at development camp together and would be the last for the plane crash victims.

The full Legacy on Ice benefit show is available to watch online (and is embedded below), and donations are still being collected through the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation.