The global figure skating community was struck with disbelief on Thursday as more details emerged regarding the tragic plane crash near Washington, D.C., which authorities fear may have left no survivors.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several of its members were on the American Airlines flight, which had 64 passengers, that collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday night. John Donnelly, chief of Washington’s fire department, stated in a press conference on Thursday that 28 bodies had been located and that the focus had shifted from searching for survivors to recovering the deceased.

While the specific number of victims associated with figure skating remains unclear, the sport is in mourning, reminiscent of the 1961 tragedy when the U.S. figure skating team perished while heading from New York to Brussels, Belgium, for the world championships.

According to U.S. Figure Skating, the skaters were on their way back from a national development camp that followed the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships held in Wichita, Kansas.

Doug Zeghibe, chief executive of the Skating Club of Boston, mentioned in a Thursday briefing that, “to the best of our knowledge,” 14 skaters returning from the Wichita camp were involved in the accident, including two coaches, as well as two teenage skaters from his club along with their mothers.

The significant impact of this incident on the figure skating community became increasingly evident as reactions from prominent figures began to emerge on social media. Among those expressing their condolences were former Olympic silver medalist Ashley Wagner, former Olympic gold medalist and NBC analyst Tara Lipinski, and her NBC partner and former skater Johnny Weir.

Wagner shared on her Instagram Story: “My heart breaks for my skating family today. I can’t find the words to express how I feel – I’m horrified, heartbroken, devastated, and shocked. It underscores that phrases like ‘my heart goes out to’ and ‘condolences to the families’ are simply inadequate.”

Lipinski posted a screenshot of a news article from People, adding: “It’s unimaginable the depth of this loss. We will mourn those we lost and will always remember them. My thoughts are with all the families affected – words don’t do justice to that pain. While so many from our community were on this tragic flight, I feel overwhelming sorrow for them and for everyone tied to this heartbreaking incident.”

Johnny Weir also expressed his thoughts on his Instagram Story, sharing a screenshot of a BBC news piece alongside a note: “I’m praying for everyone impacted by this tragic incident. Members of our skating family were aboard that flight returning home from Nationals in Wichita. We grieve for them while also praying for their families and loved ones.”

The crash on Wednesday also prompted comments from former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, who shared the shock felt throughout the skating world.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, expressed condolences in a statement, noting that some passengers on the flight may have been Olympians. Reigning world and national champion men’s figure skater Ilia Malinin posted on Instagram: “I’m heartbroken by the tragic loss of my fellow skaters in this devastating incident. The figure skating community is like family, and this loss is beyond words.”

Nancy Kerrigan, a former Olympic figure skater and a Skating Club of Boston alum, was visibly emotional while discussing the tragedy during a press conference alongside officials from the programs on Thursday.

“I have never seen anyone love skating as much as these two, which is why this hurts so much,” Kerrigan said, referencing Lane and Hahn. ” Finding out that you know some of the people on the plane makes it feel like an even more profound loss.”

Zeghibe identified Spencer Lane and Jinna Hahn as the teenage skaters from the Skating Club of Boston involved in the crash. Their mothers, Christine Lane and Jin Hahn, were also on the flight, along with their coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, both former Russian world champion skaters who are married.

“This will have lasting effects on our skating community,” Zeghibe told reporters.

This article has been updated to accurately identify one of the victims.