The spouse of a Delaware skating coach says she has “misplaced every little thing” after studying that her husband was one of many victims killed when an American Airways airplane collided midair with an Military helicopter in Washington, D.C., late Wednesday night time.
Natalya Gudin instructed WPVI that she and her husband, Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, had been each skating coaches in Delaware. She recalled the now heartbreaking choice that she and her husband made that Kirsanov would journey to Wichita, Kansas, for a growth camp.
Rescuers on boats work because the solar rises on the web site of the crash after a Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Eagle Flight 5342, which was approaching Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, and crashed into the Potomac River, outdoors of Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
“We’re husband and spouse,” she instructed the station. “We determined who’s going, who’s staying house,” she mentioned. “We determined he would go to the event camp.”
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Kirsanov, 46, was considered one of 67 individuals killed when American Airways Flight 5342 and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided close to Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport at round 9 p.m. native time.
What started as a search and rescue effort turned to a restoration operation after officers mentioned they believed there have been no survivors.
Among the many victims included a number of members of the determine skating neighborhood. U.S. Determine Skating launched an announcement confirming that the victims had been returning house from a growth camp being held after the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Wichita, which concluded on Sunday.
“I misplaced every little thing. I misplaced my husband. I misplaced my college students. I misplaced my buddies,” Gudin instructed the station.
College of Delaware President Dennis Assanis launched an announcement Thursday confirming that Kirsanov, a former determine skating coach with the college, was one of many victims in Wednesday’s crash.
Photographs of victims following the collision between an American Airways jet and a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter. (Getty Photographs)
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“I’m extremely saddened to share the information that a number of members of the determine skating neighborhood linked to the College of Delaware had been amongst those that tragically misplaced their lives in an plane collision final night time in Washington, DC,” his assertion learn.
“Kirsanov and the skaters skilled on the College’s Excessive Efficiency Coaching Heart, which makes use of UD ice rink amenities and has been the coaching house for a few years of a number of world-class skating champions and opponents. The determine skating neighborhood is tight-knit, and plenty of of our college students and coaches have skilled and competed alongside those that had been misplaced.”
Assanis additionally confirmed that Kirsanov was with “two younger skaters” on the flight. He recognized them solely as members of the UD Determine Skating Membership, however Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., later recognized them as Sean Kay and Angela Yang.
“I’m devastated to listen to the information that at the least three Delawareans died throughout final night time’s air collision. Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay, and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their ardour for determine skating. It’s a tragedy that none of them returned house to our state,” his put up on X learn.
A part of the wreckage is seen as rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a airplane on method to Reagan Nationwide Airport crashed into the river close to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Photographs)
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“Delaware is a state of neighbors, and tonight we maintain all of our neighbors a bit nearer. My coronary heart goes out to Sasha’s spouse Natalia, the College of Delaware Determine Skating Membership, and each different Delawarean touched by the three of them.”
Kirsanov’s daughter, Nicole, additionally posted a tribute on social media following the lack of her father.
“I miss you Dad, I might do something to deliver you again and let you know that I cherished you yet one more time,” she wrote in a put up on Instagram.
Kirsanov was an eight-time nationwide coach and a three-time worldwide junior world coach with almost a decade of expertise.
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