Skating Coach Whose Husband and Students Died in D.C. Plane Crash Says She’s ‘Lost Everything’

Mar. 15, 2025

The wife of a passenger killed in the midair collision between anAmerican Airlines passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopternear Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, is grieving her late husband, figure skating coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov.

Natalya Gudin, the wife of the late 46-year-old, toldABC Newsthat she and Kirsanov coached two young figure skaters, Angela Yang and Sean Kay. The couple decided that only one coach would accompany the skaters to the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kan.

“I lost everything. I lost my husband. I lost my students. I lost my friends,” Gudin told ABC News.

“We always use American Airlines when we go to competition,” Gudin toldDelaware Online. “This time they go without me, and all of them are gone.”

“This young team – Sean Kay and Angela Yang – they were so amazing,” Gudin said. “All the judges were so proud and they had such a big future. And what, all on the same plane? … For me, it’s a triple [loss].”

Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov.udfsc/Instagram

Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov

udfsc/Instagram

Kirsanov was one of 60 passengers en route to the Washington, D.C. area when the collision occurred over the Potomac River around 9 p.m. Wednesday night. There were alsofour flight attendants on the regional plane and three soldiers on the helicopter.

As of Thursday, Jan. 30, 27 bodies were recovered so far from the jet and one from the chopper. No survivors from the incident were expected.

Aleksandre Kirsanov and Christie Moxley at the 2004 State Farm U. S. Figure Skating Championships at Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia.A. Messerschmidt/Getty

Christie Moxley and Aleksandre Kirsanov finish fifth in the Championship Dance competition Friday, January 9, 2004 at the 2004 State Farm U. S.

A. Messerschmidt/Getty

Gudin and Kirsanov last spoke right before he boarded the flight. They said they would connect once he landed. But she never heard from him, and instead, the mother of one of the other figure skaters on the flight informed Gudin about the crash.

On Thursday afternoon, she stayed at a Virginia hotel, anticipating more information about her husband’s remains. “I need my husband back,” Gudin said. “I need his body back.”

Part of the wreckage of the collision between a passenger jet and US Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue crews search the waters of the Potomac River after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river after colliding with a US Army helicopter, near Washington, DC, on January 30, 2025. There are likely no survivors from a collision between a passenger jet and US Army helicopter in Washington, officials said Thursday, as recovery operations pulled 28 bodies from the river into which both crashed.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

Kirsanov, who was more recently a coach for the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, was a professional ice dancer. He previously competed for the U.S., Azerbaijan and Russia, and last competed in 2004. He then coached and choreographed in his retirement, and coached the UD Figure Skating Club.

UD President Dennis Assanisissued a statementon Thursday confirming Kirsanov’s death.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The two young skaters and coach were returning from the Kansas competition alongside 12 other figure skaters.

Washington Figure Skating Club skaters, sistersEverly and Alydia Livingston, 14 and 11, are also among the victims. Six victims were from The Skating Club of Boston: teensSpencer Laneand Jinna Han; their mothers Christine Lane and Jin Han; andcoaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

source: people.com

Other Posts

Powered by Hugo