The spouse of a Delaware skating coach says she has “misplaced all the things” 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 evening.
Natalya Gudin advised WPVI that she and her husband, Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, had been each skating coaches in Delaware. She recalled the now heartbreaking determination 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 website 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, exterior of Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
“We’re husband and spouse,” she advised the station. “We determined who’s going, who’s staying residence,” she stated. “We determined he would go to the event camp.”
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Kirsanov, 46, was one in every of 67 folks 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 stated 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 residence from a growth camp being held after the U.S. Determine Skating Championships in Wichita, which concluded on Sunday.
“I misplaced all the things. I misplaced my husband. I misplaced my college students. I misplaced my buddies,” Gudin advised 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.
Pictures of victims following the collision between an American Airways jet and a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter. (Getty Photos)
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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 evening in Washington, DC,” his assertion learn.
“Kirsanov and the skaters educated on the College’s Excessive Efficiency Coaching Middle, which makes use of UD ice rink amenities and has been the coaching residence 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 educated 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 no less than three Delawareans died throughout final evening’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 residence 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 Photos)
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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 liked 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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