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An American Airlines formation that collided with a U.S. Army chopper resulting successful 1 of the astir devastating airline disasters successful decades hearkened backmost to 2 tragedies.
On Wednesday night, respective members associated with U.S. Figure Skating and their families were connected the craft that collided with the helicopter. At slightest six had ties to the Skating Club of Boston, located successful Norwood, Massachusetts.
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The fig skating assemblage has felt the effects of an hose calamity successful the past.
Eighteen members of the U.S. fig skating squad were killed successful a level clang successful Berg-Kampenhout, Belgium connected their mode to Prague for the World Figure Skating Championships. Laurence Owen and Steffi Westerfield were among those killed successful the crash. They were considered to beryllium rising stars successful the athletics and were preparing for an Olympic bid.
There were 73 radical aboard Sabena Flight 548. The New York Daily News reported, citing investigators, that it was apt the jet’s stabilizers that caused the incident.
"U.S. Figure Skating tin corroborate that respective members of our skating assemblage were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a chopper yesterday evening successful Washington, D.C," U.S. Figure Skating said successful a connection connected Thursday. "These athletes, coaches, and household members were returning location from the National Development Camp held successful conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships successful Wichita, Kansas.
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"We are devastated by this unspeakable calamity and clasp the victims’ families intimately successful our hearts. We volition proceed to show the concern and volition merchandise much accusation arsenic it becomes available."
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu addressed the tragedy successful a quality conference.
"It was genuinely an grant to person aboriginal Olympians and those who are astatine the highest contention level of fig skating, close present successful our capital," she said.
"We were truthful excited to person the accidental to big the nationalist championship, and adjacent yesterday I had folks archer maine however fantastic these past fewer days person been with further individuals that came into our community, whether to ticker oregon to participate. So, our assemblage was truly excited and thankful that everything went good with the championship. And truthful close present we're conscionable waiting for much accusation from U.S. Figure Skating that we tin release. But close present we're conscionable hoping and praying again."
The metropolis of Wichita was described arsenic a tightknit community, which is besides nary alien to tragic craft incidents.
Wichita State University’s shot team, flying successful a Martin 404, crashed successful Colorado successful 1970, leaving 31 dead. Eight players and the co-pilot survived, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.
The origin of the clang was determined to beryllium due to the fact that of aviator error.
"Wichita is located successful the bosom of our nation, and contiguous we are grieving. I received confirmation this greeting that nary 1 survived the clang of American Airlines formation 5342," Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., wrote successful a station connected Thursday connected X.
"This is simply a bittersweet time for Kansas and our nation. My bosom breaks for the lives that were mislaid and their loved ones who are present learning that their household oregon friends were connected the flight.
"There volition beryllium overmuch to larn and bash successful the coming days successful the aftermath of this tragedy, but contiguous delight articulation maine successful praying for the victims and their families. May God comfortableness them and ticker implicit each those who are mourning."
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