Three victims of US plane crash had Russian passports, identity of fourth being checked: Russian Foreign Ministry
Moscow has confirmed that three Russians were among the 67 victims of the tragic plane crash in the United States on Wednesday night. The crash involved an American Eagle passenger jet, which collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, making it the worst US air disaster since 2001.
The American Eagle Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members, crashed into the Potomac River after the collision with the Black Hawk, which had 3 service members onboard. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that three of the victims held Russian passports, including world champion figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as well as Soviet-era figure skater Inna Volyanskaya, who worked as a coach in the US.
Zakharova added that the identity of a fourth victim is still under investigation, with a possibility of that individual holding a Russian passport. The Russian Embassy in the United States is in contact with the US State Department to address all aspects of the tragic event.
US authorities confirmed that there were no survivors. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clarified that both the plane and the helicopter had been flying standard flight paths, which are common for the region’s busy airspace.
