The United States is grappling with the aftermath of its most devastating aviation disaster in decades.
Sixty-seven people perished in the tragic D.C. plane crash on Wednesday night, including sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston, along with their parents, Donna and Peter Livingston.
The Livingston family was among the many lives lost in this heartbreaking event.
Final Social Media Post
Pennsylvania-based news station WTAJ confirmed that Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their daughters, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were on board American Airlines Flight 5342.
Everly and Alydia were accomplished figure skaters and members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, according to the Daily Mail. They trained at the Ashburn Ice House, a central hub for their local skating community in Virginia.
Just days before the crash, their father captured a photo of the sisters in Kansas—one of many cherished memories reflecting their passion for life and skating.
Beyond the rink, Everly and Alydia were known on social media as the beloved "Ice Skating Sisters."
Their final Instagram post, shared just five days before the accident, showed them beaming in front of the ice rink at the championships, proudly wearing their ‘athlete’ lanyards.
“If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this,” the caption read. “But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”
A year ago, 13-year-old Everly spoke with FOX 5 DC about her accomplishments on the ice, rapidly emerging as a rising star in the figure skating world. In an emotional interview, she reflected on the challenges and beauty of the sport while expressing her aspirations.
“My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,” she said, her face lit up with excitement.
A Community in Mourning
U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several members of their community were on board the ill-fated flight, prompting an outpouring of tributes. A growing memorial at the Ashburn Ice House stands as a testament to the deep impact of this loss.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to all affected,” the Ashburn Ice House’s management shared in a statement. “The figure skating community is a close-knit, worldwide family, and our hearts are broken.”
The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club also expressed sorrow in a social media post, stating: “Many of us have lost personal friends. We will hold a moment of silence at our next Club Ice in honor of those we’ve lost.”
Family friend Cassandra Atkins, a designer from Australia, had created custom skating outfits for the sisters through her business, Frozen Couture. Though she never met them in person, she frequently exchanged photos and videos with their mother, Donna.
Donna worked at Comcast, while Peter was a real estate agent. The couple was known for their unwavering dedication to their daughters' skating careers, spending long nights in hotels and traveling frequently between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia.
“Donna was the perfect mom,” Atkins told WFLA. “The girls were her world. They loved bright, standout outfits and always brought so much joy to the ice.”
She also recalled their boundless energy.
“If they weren’t skating, they were roller skating—or they’d put wheels on their boots. They always found a way to move.”
The Deadliest Air Disaster in 24 Years
The crash occurred when an American Airlines flight collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise. The commercial plane, preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, spiraled into the Potomac River upon impact. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States in nearly 24 years.
Many of the passengers aboard the Kansas-to-D.C. flight were part of the figure skating world—athletes, coaches, and their families. The Skating Club of Boston confirmed six victims, including Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the 1994 World Champion pair skaters.
Ice rinks along the East Coast are now mourning the loss of their beloved skaters.
As investigators work to determine the cause of the tragedy, communities across the nation remember Everly, Alydia, and the many others whose lives were tragically cut short. Their passion, talent, and bright spirits will never be forgotten.
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