Russian skating couple Shishkova and Naumov, 1994 world champions, were on crashed US plane

Figure skating becomes your life,

says Russian-born Shishkova in the interview

Everything was going well for them. They traveled to the main competitions in America and they had very good, worthy students,

Velikova said

The Russian Figure Skating Federation, Russian skaters, coaches, judges and experts are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy which has occurred in Washington,

the federation said in a statement

At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident,

D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly told reporters at a news conference

We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,

the global governing body said in a statement

They were my favorite sports people. They were part of my first attempt at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were talented and beautiful people,

said Velikova, visibly distraught

Kristi Noemhomeland Security Secretary

We are deploying every available U.S. Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA. We are actively monitoring the situation & stand ready to support local responders. Praying for the victims and first responders."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X (formerly Twitter

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

We unfortunately see that these sad reports are being confirmed,

Peskov said, referring to the reports by Tass

Donald Trumppresident

I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."

President Donald Trump said in a statement released by the White House

I don't want to name names, but there were around 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and several coaches.

American figure skater John Maravilla, as reported by RIA Novosti, said

I want to thank my parents and my sister who opened the door [to figure skating].

Maxim, whose parents were his coaches, once said

We are proud of you, Maxim,

the couple said in a social media post shared by Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti, Russia's oldest newspaper

We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available

the sport governing body said in a statement

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

There were other of our fellow citizens on board. It's bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send our condolences to families and friends,

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters

We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,

it said in a statement