The Figure Skaters in the American Airlines Plane Crash Remembered: What to Know About the Victims

Alydia, Everly, Donna and Peter Livingston

Sisters Alydia, 11, and Everly, 14, were both rising stars in the skating world and members of the Washington Figure Skating Club. They were accompanied to Wichita by their parents Donna and Peter of Ashburn, Va.

Everly had previously attended the development camp with her partner Franco Aparicio (who is thought to be another victim in the crash, according to reports), and it was Alydia’s first time at the camp with her new ice dancing partner Matt Jacoby. (“We had the best time,” the duo wrote on their Instagram where they often posted under the handle @ice_skating_sisters.) This was the first time the girls overlapped at the camp.

“Donna was just like the most perfect mom,” family friend Cassandra Atkins told WTAJ. “She really was… Those girls were everything to her, the center of her whole universe.”

Justyna Beyer and Brielle Beyer

Justyna Beyer, 42, joined her 12-year-old daughter Brielle at the Wichita camp.

In an interview with ABC News, Andy Beyer spoke about losing his wife and daughter in the crash, saying that Brielle had faced cancer at 4 months old and was “such a fighter in everything she did. She just lived life to the fullest with everything.”

A GoFundMe for Andy and his 6-year-old son describes Justyna as “a devoted mother, exhibited unconditional love and support towards her two children and loving husband. She sacrificed so much to provide for Brielle’s future as an Olympic figure skater.”

Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov

Former ice dancer Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, 46, who competed for the U.S., Azerbaijan and Russia before his retirement in 2004, was a coach and choreographer for the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club. He was on the flight accompanying ice dancing pair Angela Yang and Sean Kay.

His wife Natalya Gudin co-coached the pair, but did not go to Wichita. “I lost everything. I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends,” Gudin told ABC News.

Their daughter Nicole, also a competitive ice dancer, wrote on her Instagram stories, “I miss you Dad, I would do anything to bring you back and tell you that I loved you one more time.”

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov

Former professional skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were proud parents of son and figure skating pupil, Maxim Naumov. Days before the tragic crash, the pair shared their joy on their joint Instagram account, writing, “Once again, Maxim made us all proud, getting on to the podium at Nationals after 7th place in the short.”

“This beautiful and emotional performance is a result of a team work. Huge thanks to Serhii and Irina Vaypan and of course to Adam Blake for his wonderful choreography of a classic! Maxim has earned his place in the team of 4 Continents,” they continued.

Shishkova and Naumov were retired athletes themselves, having won the 1994 World Figure Skating pairs. The couple, who also coached young figure skaters at the Skating Club of Boston, were returning after coaching at the U.S. Figure Skating development camp.

Maxim was not on the flight, the Skating Club of Boston confirmed.

Jinna Han and Jin Han

Those who knew Jinna Han mention her incredible talent and bright spirit. The 13-year-old was a member of the Skating Club of Boston since 2020 and she died in the crash along with her mom, Jin Han.

Her coach Olga Ganicheva recalled to NBC10 Boston that Jinna (pronounced “Jeena”) was a star student (“Her nickname was ‘Jinna Starina,’ like a star.”) and her mother was supportive and trusting.

In 2022, Jinna was interviewed by NBC10 Boston and declared her intention to make the Olympics one day.

Following the news, a YouTube clip of Jinna performing her free skate at the 2025 Eastern Sectionals, her last major competition, has resurfaced.

She placed fourth in the free skate and fourth overall, earning a berth to the National High-Performance Development Team that followed the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

“Jinna has an amazing smile. Every time you would say her name, she would immediately give you a smile and [say hello] in her high voice,” Team USA Skater Misha Mitrofanov told PEOPLE.

Spencer Lane and Christine Lane

Spencer Lane, 16, was traveling with his mom, Christine Lane, 49, who also died in the crash. His dad Douglas Lane spoke about his wife, who he said “had tons of joy and was loved by everyone,” and son, whom he described as a “force of nature,” in an interview with CBS affiliate WPRI-TV.

Douglas welcomed Spencer and his younger brother Milo through adoption from South Korea. The proud father said that Spencer had been inspired to start skating just a few years ago after seeing Nathan Chen skate in the Olympics — and Spencer’s success in the sport was near-instant.

“In his home club in Boston, he was just loved by everyone from the adults running the club to the smallest skaters to the people that are competing for a shot at the Olympics,” Douglas added. “They just adored him.”

Spencer had a popular TikTok where he showcased his talent, including a video of a triple toe loop from the final day of development camp in Wichita.

Inna Volyanskaya

Coach Inna Volyanskaya, 59, was traveling from Wichita to D.C. along with her student, Everly Livingston.

Volyanskaya was a former pairs skater who competed for the Soviet Union, according to Reuters, citing Russian news agency TASS. A bio on the Ashburn Ice House site says also played Ariel in Disney on Ice, among other theatrical ice productions.

In a recent Instagram post shared by Volyanskaya, she is seen posing with Everly and her skating partner Franco Aparicio.

“Congratulations on Everly and Franco for making it to the national development camp for their second year! So proud of all their hard work and training they have done to get here. What an amazing way to start off the year!” she wrote.

Olivia Ter

Per CBS News affiliate WJZ-TV, 12-year-old ice skater Olivia Ter was onboard the flight. The outlet explained that Ter trained at the Tucker Road Ice Rink in Prince George’s County, Md. and was hoping to land a spot on Team USA in the world championships.

“Olivia not only excelled in figure skating programs but inspired others through her talent, determination and sportsmanship,” Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation said in a statement obtained by WJZ-TV. “Her passion for the sport and positive influence on her peers and coaches will not be forgotten.”

Cory, Roger and Stephanie Branton Haynos

Virginia skater Cory Haynos, 16, who attended the Wichita development camp with his parents Roger and Stephanie, landed a difficult triple axel in front of scouts at the camp, according to the New York Times.

According to the Kansas City Star, Stephanie served on the board of the Skating Club of Northern Virginia, where Cory belonged, and she and Roger were very supportive of Cory’s skating goals.

Angela Yang

Angela Yang, 11, was among the youngest who lost their lives in the deadly crash. Yang had journeyed to Wichita along with her partner, Sean Kay, and coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov.

On Jan. 21, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club Facebook shared a congratulatory post celebrating the young duos trip to the camp.

“We have Angela Yang/Sean Kay & Zoe Stone/Jerry Stone heading to Wichita for National Development Camp with Emmanuel Savary competing in the Championship Men event!” they wrote. “Congratulations to everyone and we wish you all the best!”

Savary as well as Zoe Stone and Jerry Stone were not in the crash.

It appears that Yang enjoyed her time at camp as she posted a carousel after leaving. “Had so so much fun at camp!!! I’m really gonna miss my friends and all the great coaches! I can’t wait for next year!” she wrote in her final post on Instagram.

Sean Kay

Like his partner, Kay also had a promising future in figure skating. According to the U.S. Figure Skating website, the pair won first place in several categories at the 2025 Midwestern Sectional Singles and U.S. Ice Dance Finals, which took place in Plano, Texas, in November.