Almost 50% of the individuals on board the aircraft that tragically collided with a military helicopter last week were associated with the figure skating community, according to a statement from U.S. Figure Skating issued on Monday.

The national organization responsible for the sport confirmed that there were 28 individuals from its community aboard American Airlines flight 5342 on Wednesday evening, returning home after participating in a national development camp held in Wichita, Kansas. Authorities reported that the flight had 60 passengers and four crew members, and unfortunately, there were no survivors.

In a heartfelt video shared on social media, U.S. Figure Skating revealed that among the victims were 11 young skaters aged 11 to 16, along with four coaches. The remaining 13 individuals included family members of those involved.

“Those we lost poured their hearts into mastering figure skating, with many aspiring to achieve their dreams of one day being Olympians. We will remember them always,” stated interim CEO Samuel Auxier. “Their enthusiasm and excellence should motivate us and provide us strength in the difficult times ahead. Our hearts are currently filled with grief, and we stand in solidarity with their families and friends during this unimaginable loss.”

In response to the tragedy, U.S. Figure Skating has created a fund to assist the families directly affected by this incident. A tribute event is set to take place at Capital One Arena in Washington on March 2.

In addition, some friends and relatives of the victims have launched GoFundMe campaigns to support their loved ones. As of Monday morning, these initiatives had successfully raised over $500,000 in total for the families of the deceased figure skaters, coaches, and parents involved in the accident.

Connect with Tom Schad on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.