Two sisters who were competitive figure skaters were among the victims of the recent plane collision in Washington, D.C. The pair had participated in the latest championships in Wichita and were on their way home when the tragedy struck.

Reports confirm the heartbreaking loss of several victims in the American Airlines plane crash, including Peter Livingston, his wife Donna Smojice Livingston, a proud native of Central Pennsylvania, and their talented figure skating daughters. Their tragic deaths have sent shockwaves through their community and the figure skating world, leaving an irreplaceable void.

Tragically, Peter Livingston, his wife Donna Smojice Livingston, and their two daughters, Alydia, 11, and Everly, 14, were among the victims who lost their lives in the devastating crash of Flight 5342. The siblings’ final social media post, shared just days before the crash on January 24, captured a moment of joy as they posed together at a recent event.
The heartfelt post, filled with enthusiasm, read: “If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this but is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?” The message reflected their excitement and the strong bond they shared as a family, with their love for skating shining through in every word.

The Livingston family’s close friend, Cassandra Atkins, a designer from Australia and the owner of Frozen Couture, had a special connection with the girls, having crafted many of their skating outfits. Although Cassandra never met the family in person, she and Donna maintained a close bond, speaking nearly every day or week. Cassandra fondly recalls receiving photos and videos of Alydia and Everly from Donna, capturing moments of the girls’ lives both on and off the ice.
Reflecting on her friendship with Donna, Cassandra described her as “the most perfect mom,” emphasizing how devoted Donna was to her daughters. “Those girls were everything to her, the center of her whole universe,” she said. Just a week before the tragedy, they had discussed new designs for the girls’ costumes, with Donna noting that Alydia and Everly preferred bright, eye-catching colors over the darker tones typical for skaters their age. Cassandra shared how the girls’ passion for skating knew no bounds, even when they weren’t on the ice, recalling how they would roller skate or find ways to incorporate wheels into their boots.
The tragedy was also felt deeply by The Skating Lesson Facebook page, which shared images of the sisters. Alydia, just 11 years old, was remembered as a rising ice dancer who had recently earned a spot in a prestigious camp with her new partner. The page celebrated her vivacious personality and determination to improve, noting that she was the youngest skater on board the plane. Everly, her older sister, was more reserved but found her true self when skating. A sectional champion at both the intermediate and juvenile levels, Everly’s dedication to the sport was evident.
The sisters’ parents, Donna and Peter, were devoted supporters of their daughters’ skating dreams. They spent countless nights in hotels and traveled extensively between Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia to support their girls. Donna, an employee at Comcast, and Peter, a real estate agent, were admired for their unwavering commitment to their children’s success. The page fondly remembered Donna for her optimistic nature and Peter for his constant support, always filming his daughters’ performances at every opportunity.
The girls’ love for figure skating began at an early age, as showcased in a heartwarming post by a figure skating page. A throwback picture from 2010, showing Alydia and Everly posing in the snow at ages two and five, reflected how their parents built an ice rink in their garden every year for their growing daughters. By 2023, Everly, then 14, was interviewed by Fox5 at the Ashburn Ice House, where she expressed her love for the jumps and spins in the sport, describing how figure skating blends both challenge and grace.
The family even created a YouTube channel in 2018 to showcase the girls’ skating skills, where they uploaded 67 videos, gaining over 86,000 views from their 437 subscribers. Tragically, the girls’ lives, along with those of many others, were cut short on January 29, when an American Airlines plane collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. The crash, which took place while the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet was approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, claimed the lives of 64 people, including athletes, coaches, and family members associated with US Figure Skating.
The group had been returning from the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, where some had participated in the National Development Camp. Authorities confirmed that no survivors were found after a massive search and recovery operation, with 28 bodies recovered by Thursday morning. The situation shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, leaving the skating community, family, and friends in deep mourning.
Among the victims identified in the tragic crash were Spencer Lane, a talented skater, and his mother, Christine, alongside Jinna Han and her mother, Jin Han. Jinna, a 13-year-old rising star, had recently made waves in the competitive figure skating world, notably participating in the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final in the novice women’s free skate category. She was admired for her remarkable poise, strong technical abilities, and captivating stage presence.
In 2023, Jinna’s performances in The Skating Club of Boston’s Ice Chips show earned widespread praise. Doug Zeghibe, CEO and Executive Director of SC Boston, described her as “in it to win it, full of grace, a serious competitor but so nice about it and so supportive of her fellow competitors… just a delight for a little 13-year-old, full of grace.”
Her talent and kindness were also recognized by journalist and skating enthusiast Kat Cornetta, who shared her sorrow on social media, writing, “I am saddened by the loss of everyone on that DC flight, but especially so by the loss of Jinna Han. She was a remarkable skater.” Her untimely passing is a significant loss to the skating community, as she was seen as one of its brightest future stars.

This tragic event marks the loss of not only Jinna Han, but many other talented skaters, coaches, and family members. Kat Cornetta, who had previously written about Jinna’s dedication to the sport, expressed her sorrow over the loss, as did Jinna’s friend, London. London’s mother, Tashema Lindsey, shared a heartfelt message: “London and her friend Jinna Han, a shining star lost in the plane crash, will continue to inspire us. London is grieving… just completely devastated!”
Among the other victims were coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of SC Boston, as well as Northern Virginia athletes Eddie Zhou, Brielle Beyer and her mother, Justyna Magdalena, and Cory Haynos. Everly and Alydia, members of the Washington Figure Skating Club (FSC), were also among those lost, along with Franco Aparicio and coach Inna Volyanskaya. The University of Delaware FSC mourned the loss of athletes Sean Kay and Angela Yang, as well as coach Alexandr Kirsanov.
US Figure Skating expressed its deep sorrow on Instagram, writing, “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is conducting a thorough investigation, with the NTSB leading the inquiry into the collision.