The United States is in shock following the deadliest aviation tragedy in decades.
Sixty-seven people, including the sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston and their parents Peter and Donna, perished in the tragic plane disaster that occurred in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.
The Livingston family was among the many persons who lost their life in this awful incident.
Final social media post
Passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342 were Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two children, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, according to Pennsylvania-based TV station WTAJ.
Everly and Alydia were both accomplished figure skaters who were members of the Washington Figure Skating Club, the Daily Mail reported. They worked out at the Ashburn Ice House, a meeting spot for the local skating community in Virginia.
One of the many priceless memories of their love of skating and life is a photograph their father shot of the girls in Kansas just a few days before the crash.
The sisters’ love of skating outside of the rink was evident on social media, where they were widely recognized as the beloved “Ice Skating Sisters.”
The sisters’ last Instagram picture, taken five days before the terrible event, featured them smiling in front of the ice rink during the championships, proudly sporting their “athlete” lanyards.
“If you look attentively at Alydia’s badge… “We were prepared for this from birth,” the caption read. “However, will Livingston be this much for @usfigureskating at Nationals?”
Just last year, 13-year-old figure skating sensation Everly spoke with FOX 5 DC about her achievements on the ice. In a passionate discussion, she shared her goals for the future as well as the challenges and beauty of the sport.
“My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,” she said with a big smile.
A acquaintance of the family remembers
Condolences poured in as soon as U.S. Figure Skating learned that several members of its community were traveling. The Ashburn Ice House’s growing memorial reflects the tragedy’s profound impact.
The administration of the Ashburn Ice House issued a statement saying, “We send our deepest sympathies to everyone impacted.” “The figure skating community is a close-knit, international family, and our hearts are broken.”
The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club also expressed their grief on social media, writing: “A lot of us have lost close friends. We will take a moment of silence during our next Club Ice to honor those who have passed away.
The girls’ customized skating outfits were created by family friend and Australian designer Cassandra Atkins through her business, Frozen Couture. Although she didn’t actually meet the family, she stayed in contact with Donna by sending her images and videos of Everly and Alydia.
The kids’ mother, Donna, worked at Comcast, while their father, Peter, was a real estate agent. They spent several nights in motels and juggled the responsibilities of raising two skaters while traveling between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia in recent months. They were thought to be among the most loving parents.
“Donna was the ideal mother,” Atkins told WFLA. The girls were the center of her universe. They loved dressing in colorful, eye-catching clothing and always brought so much energy to the rink.
Atkins further revealed that even when they weren’t skating, the sisters struggled to remain still.
If they weren’t skating, they were putting wheels to their boots or roller skating. They were always able to move.
The deadliest air disaster in 24 years
The incident occurred when an American Airlines plane and a military Black Hawk chopper collided during a training exercise. After the disaster, the commercial plane crashed into the Potomac River as it prepared to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport. In over 24 years, it was the deadliest air tragedy to hit the United States.
The tragic plane was flying from Kansas, and many of the passengers were figure skating athletes, coaches, and their families. The Skating Club of Boston has confirmed six victims, including the 1994 World Champion pair skaters Vadim Naumov and Eugenia Shishkova.
Ice rinks along the U.S. East Coast are in grief after losing their skaters.
As officials work to identify the source of the catastrophe, communities around the nation mourn the loss of Everly, Alydia, and innumerable others whose lives were tragically cut short. We will always remember their vibrant personalities and love of skating.
