U.S. determine skater Jon Maravilla couldn’t board the deadly American Airways flight that collided with a helicopter Wednesday night time in Washington, D.C. since his canine was too giant to be carried onto the flight, based on a Day by day Beast report citing Russian state media.
Maravailla, who’s a senior at West Bloomfield Excessive Faculty in Michigan based on the college’s athletics web page, reportedly as a substitute opted to drive from Wichita, Kan.
He advised a Russian state information company there have been “about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and coaches,” based on the New York Occasions.
There are not any anticipated survivors from the crash, with the aircraft carrying 60 passengers and 4 flight members and the helicopter having three folks onboard.
“Such a tragedy,” Maravilla advised the Russian outlet, as transcribed by the New York Occasions.
Maravilla, a 2025 U.S junior pairs bronze medalist alongside accomplice Saya Carpenter, offered particulars on his journey on his protected Instagram account, as seen in captured pictures.
He posted to his Instagram Story a photograph inside an airport — believed to be Wichita Eisenhower Airport in Kansas, from the place the flight originated — with the caption “Not allowed past gate to board flight,” together with 5 facepalm emojis, adopted by “get me tf out of Kansas please.”
Maravilla didn’t point out the canine in mentioned Story.
He later posted a photograph of a highway with the caption “14 hour journey begins” that confirmed the time of 12:23.
The American Airways Flight 5342 from Wichita to Ronald Raegan Washington Nationwide Airport contained a number of U.S. determine skaters and coaches following the Nationwide Growth Camp on the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Wichita from Jan. 20-26.
Observe The Submit’s protection of the American Airways jet’s collision with a navy helicopter in DC
The husband-wife world championship tandem of Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova have been additionally on the aircraft.
The aircraft and helicopter collided round 9 p.m., with particles falling into the Potomac River under in what is predicted to be the USA’ deadliest aircraft crash in 15 years.
“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available,” US Determine Skating mentioned in a press release.
