The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025, held in Boston, became an emotional stage to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic plane crash of Flight 5342. This event, which brought together the global skating community, included a memorial to honor the 67 people who died, including 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community.
THE FIGURE SKATING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The memorial took place Wednesday at Boston’s TD Garden as part of the world championships. During the event, a video memorial to the victims was shown, accompanied by speeches from representatives of the affected communities. Among them, International Skating Union (ISU) President Kim Jae Youl noted, “This year, the championships have an even deeper meaning. They are a tribute to the incredible lives, talent and passion of those we lost, but who will always be part of our skating family.”
The accident, which occurred on January 29, involved a collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342. Among the victims were 11 young skaters, four coaches and 13 family members who were returning from a national development camp in Kansas. Six of them were members of the Skating Club of Boston, including Olympians and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
WORDS OF HOPE AND REMEMBRANCE
Doug Lane, who lost his wife Christine and 16-year-old son Spencer, also spoke during the memorial. “There is no vocabulary to describe the pain we feel, but I want to share some words of hope,” he said. Lane urged the community to support young skaters moving forward, both in their athletic careers and in their lives off the ice.
The event was also attended by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and US Figure Skating Interim Executive Director Samuel Auxier. The memorial concluded with a moving live performance by the Allegro Choir.
SKATER TRIBUTES
The tribute was especially meaningful for US figure skaters Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who train at the Skating Club of Boston. After their short program, both showed photographs of the victims in the kiss-and-cry zone. “This has given us a new perspective on the sport and what it means to us,” commented Mitrofanov.
Other U.S. skaters, including Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn and couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates, also participated in the “Legacy on Ice” charity event held March 2 in Washington, with funds going to the victims’ families and rescue teams.
A GLOBAL SKATING RESPONSE
The tribute was not limited to the United States. Skaters from around the world also paid tribute to the victims. At the 2025 European Figure Skating Championships, France’s Adam Siao Him Fa displayed a message of peace and solidarity in the kiss-and-cry zone, while teammate Kevin Aymoz changed his short program to a more emotional one dedicated to the young skaters affected by the tragedy.
These gestures reflect the unity and strength of the global figure skating community, which continues to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the crash of flight 5342.
