A devastating tragedy has struck the nation this week, as the deadliest plane crash in the U.S. in 24 years resulted in the loss of 67 lives.
Among the youngest victims were 11-year-old Angela Yang and 12-year-old Sean Kay, two promising figure skaters whose bright futures were tragically cut short.
Their passing has left a profound impact on the skating community and beyond, serving as a poignant reminder of how swiftly life can change.
The youngest victims
A regional jet, which had just taken off from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter on January 29 around 9 p.m.
Reports indicate that all 67 individuals involved in the incident have lost their lives.
The young ice dance partners, Angela Yang and Sean Kay, aged 11 and 12, have been identified as the youngest victims of the crash.
An obituary shared by a skating organization on Facebook described the duo as “undefeated in juvenile ice dance this season.”
Recently, they had secured first place in several categories at the 2025 Midwestern Sectional Singles and US Ice Dance competition in Texas, maintaining their undefeated streak in juvenile ice dance this season.
Angela Yang, 11, and Sean Kay, 12, were a talented pair with big dreams ahead of them.
Angela Yang was inspired by her siblings’ love for ice hockey and started skating at a young age, quickly advancing in her skills. According to The Skating Lesson, she initially began her journey as a solo dancer but always envisioned herself partnering on the ice. To support this dream, her mother, Lily, decided to relocate from Maryland to Delaware and began homeschooling Angela to nurture her skating passion. Meanwhile, Angela’s father remained in China while Lily focused on raising their three children and encouraging Angela’s aspirations.
Sean Kay, the second oldest of four siblings who all skated, was a natural on the ice. He followed in his older sister’s footsteps, quickly outpacing her and his peers. Sean achieved success in solo dance competitions at the juvenile and intermediate levels on a national scale. As his skills continued to develop, he planned to advance to the junior level in solo dance while competing alongside Angela in the intermediate category next season.
The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club announced that Sean Kay secured first place in the 2023 Excel Series Final in the Excel Juvenile Plus Boys category.
“We always fly with American Airlines for competitions. This time, they’re going without me, and now they’re all gone,” she expressed. “This young team – Sean Kay and Angela Yang – was truly remarkable. The judges were so impressed, and they had such bright futures ahead. And they were all on the same flight?” Gudin continued, her sorrow evident. “For me, it feels like a triple loss.”
Alongside Yang, Kay, and Kirsanov, several other members of the skating community were tragically on that flight. This included Boston skaters Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16, along with their mothers. The 1994 World Champion pair, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, also lost their lives in this devastating incident.
According to Pennsylvania news station WTAJ, Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two skating daughters, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were also passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342.
This heartbreaking event serves as a reminder of life’s fragility, and the ice skating community will forever cherish the memories of these talented young individuals whose futures were so abruptly taken away.
As we grieve, we celebrate their commitment, their potential, and the happiness they brought to countless lives. Our thoughts are with their families, friends, and the entire figure skating community during this profoundly challenging time.