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One year after a midair collision over the Potomac River killed everyone on board an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter, the Boston skating community gathered Thursday night to remember those lives lost — including six members of the Skating Club of Boston.
A public tribute at the Boston Common marked the anniversary of the January crash in Washington, D.C., which killed all 67 people involved.
During the ceremony, 28 names were read aloud — members of the U.S. skating community who died in the crash.
Families of victims gathered in Washington for a memorial service in honor of the 67 people killed in the crash over the Potomac.
Tributes were held across the country, including at the Boston Common Frog Pond, where skaters took to the ice as part of a remembrance.
U.S. figure skating team member Jimmy Ma reflected on the loss and the perspective it brought.
“We never get to appreciate what we really, really have in front of us,” he said.
In the wake of tragedy, the skating community has grown closer — bonding through grief.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who attended the Boston Common tribute, said she was moved by what she witnessed.
“I was just so struck by the strength and the resilience of the community of the Boston skating club, and it’s a model for Massachusetts and this country, in terms of what community really looks like,” she said.
The collision occurred when a Black Hawk helicopter struck American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board concluded this week the crash was preventable.
Skating Club of Boston CEO and Executive Director Doug Zeghibe said the findings were difficult to hear.
“At a disbelief when you hear from the hearings and the reports how senseless this was,” said Zeghibe. “You hope that there’s going to be significant change — and not change that is publicized but never really happens, but change that is actual, real, and is acted up upon and is long-term.”
For Ma, the loss has reshaped his outlook — turning grief into purpose.
“We are not defined by how we felt at a specific time, but how we act in the face of darkness,” said Ma.
He said honoring those lost means carrying their memory forward, including Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine; Jinna Han and her mother, Jin; and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
“It wasn’t just about the sport anymore,” he said. “It was about community, and I just wanted to take a step back and appreciate that more, instead of just thinking about what my goals were.”
Thursday’s tribute allowed the public to grieve alongside the skating community. As the club continues to honor those lost, it is also moving forward: Three members of the Skating Club of Boston have made the Olympic team and are set to compete in Milan Cortina starting next week. Coverage will air on NBC10 Boston and stream on Peacock.
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Oscar Margain
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