A devastating plane crash in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night has left the nation in mourning. The tragic accident claimed the lives of 67 people, including sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston and their parents, Peter and Donna. The Livingston family was among the many victims of this heartbreaking catastrophe.
According to Pennsylvania news station WTAJ, the family had been passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342. Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their daughters Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were all on board the ill-fated flight.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Everly and Alydia were talented figure skaters and members of the Washington Figure Skating Club. They trained at the Ashburn Ice House, a well-known venue for the Virginia skating community. Just days before the tragedy, their father captured a special moment of the girls in Kansas—one of many cherished memories reflecting their love for skating and life.
The sisters were also well-known online as the “Ice Skating Sisters,” sharing their passion for the sport beyond the rink. Their final Instagram post, shared just five days before the crash, featured them beaming in front of an ice rink at the championships, proudly displaying their “athlete” lanyards. “If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… we were born ready for this,” the caption read. “But will Livingston at Nationals be this much for @usfigureskating?”
Everly, a rising star in figure skating at just 13 years old, had spoken to FOX 5 DC the previous year about her achievements and dreams in the sport. She expressed her love for skating and her aspirations, saying, “My goal is to join Team USA and compete worldwide.”
Following the crash, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several members of their community were on board, leading to an outpouring of grief. A growing memorial at Ashburn Ice House reflects the deep sorrow felt throughout the figure skating world. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected,” the rink’s management shared in a statement. “Our hearts are shattered, and the figure skating community is a close-knit, global family.”
The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club also expressed its sorrow on social media, writing, “Many of us have lost dear friends.” They announced plans to hold a moment of silence at their next Club Ice session in remembrance of the victims.
Cassandra Atkins, an Australian designer and friend of the family, created custom skating costumes for the sisters through her company, Frozen Couture. Although she never met them in person, she stayed in touch with Donna, frequently exchanging videos and photos of Everly and Alydia.
Peter, the girls’ father, worked as a real estate agent, while their mother, Donna, was employed at Comcast. In recent months, the family traveled between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia, balancing their daughters’ skating commitments with long nights in hotels.
“They were the most devoted parents,” Atkins told WFLA. “Donna was an incredible mother—her world revolved around her daughters. They brought so much energy to the rink and loved wearing vibrant, eye-catching outfits.”
Atkins also recalled how the sisters could never stay still, even off the ice. “If they weren’t skating, they were roller-skating or adding wheels to their boots. They were always moving.”
The tragedy occurred when a military Black Hawk helicopter collided with the American Airlines flight during a training exercise. The commercial aircraft, which was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, then plummeted into the Potomac River.
This marks the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. in nearly 24 years. Many passengers on the flight were figure skaters, coaches, and their families traveling from Kansas. Among the victims were 1994 World Champion pair skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, as confirmed by the Skating Club of Boston.
The loss has sent waves of grief through ice skating communities along the East Coast. As investigators work to determine the cause of the tragedy, people across the country continue to mourn Everly, Alydia, and the many others whose lives were tragically cut short. Their vibrant spirits and passion for skating will never be forgotten.