The Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe pointed out the parallels in the 1961 plane crash and the collision on Wednesday, January 29

After the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, some young athletes stayed a couple of additional days for further development.

The plane that crashed near Washington, D.C., was carrying an unknown number of passengers from the figure skating community, including Russian husband-and-wife world champions. Wichita, Kansas, had hosted several high-profile skating events in recent days.

U.S. Figure Skating previously said several skaters, coaches and their family members were on the American Airlines flight that crashed near Washington.

The tight-knit figure skating community was rocked when an American Airlines flight carrying athletes, parents and coaches from a development camp in Wichita, Kansas, collided with an Army helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River.

The crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter was the latest to strike the sports world in the U.S. and globally.

Once again, figure skaters representing the past, present and future of the sport perished in a catastrophic plane crash.

Figure skaters and coaches returning from the recent U.S. national championships were aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday,

The U.S. Figure Skating community is heartbroken after learning athletes, coaches, and families were on board the plane that crashed in Washington, D.C.

The camp serves as a launchpad for athletes vying for their spot on Team USA in the upcoming world championships.

Outside City Hall in downtown Wichita, Kansas roses and a teddy bear were laid in remembrance of the lives lost in the plane crash in Washington D.C. They were placed here after a prayer vigil inside earlier Thursday where faith leaders shared words of encouragement to the community.

After several minutes of prayers and songs, the vigil was taken outside and finished at the law enforcement memorial.