Several members of US Figure Skating community were on board American Airlines jet that crashed into Potomac River after mid-air Black Hawk chopper collision

Members of the US figure skating community were on board the American Airlines plane that crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, the sport's governing body has confirmed.

Several skaters, coaches and their family members are said to have been on the flight and had been returning home from the National Development Camp for top young skaters. 

The camp is held in conjunction with the national championships, which ran in Wichita from January 20 to 26, with some young athletes staying on until January 28 for the advanced training programme. 

'We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts,' US Figure Skating said in a statement.

'We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.'

Team USA pair skater Luke Wang told reporters that skaters who qualified for the elite division stayed an extra day at the event, after which he said several boarded the American Airlines Flight.

'Praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc,' Wang wrote on X on Wednesday night, adding that: 'among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking.'

Team USA ice dancer, Ethan Peal responded to the news on X writing: 'I am in shock. Praying for families and my skating community.'

Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov are also reported to have been on board the American Airlines plane that crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington.

Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.

Russian state-run TASS news agency reported this morning that they were on board the doomed flight, citing a source. If confirmed they would be the first named victims in the tragedy.

The couple's 23-year-old son Maxim, a figure skater for Team USA, took part in the US Championships in Wichita in recent days, gaining a podium position. 

It is not yet clear if he was on the plane from Kansas with his parents.

The regional passenger jet and a US Army helicopter crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision as the plane approached Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.

The airline has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members on Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the capital when the collision happened. 

The plane is said to have split in two and is in around seven feet of water, while the helicopter is upside down and is unstable, according to the outlet.

Images captured at the scene show emergency officials on boats around what appears to be part of the fuselage and a wing jutting out of the river.  

The Federal Aviation Authority said that the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Runway 33. 

Defense officials have confirmed that the Black Hawk was an Army chopper carrying three soldiers on a training flight.