Virginia Figure Skaters Honor Plane Crash Victims

Young skaters at the Ashburn Ice House remember those lost in the midair collision over the Potomac River.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:07pm

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The figure skating community in Northern Virginia is honoring the skaters, coaches, and family members killed a year ago in the midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Young skaters at the Ashburn Ice House wore black and skated around a newly unveiled sculpture made by a local artist to commemorate the victims, including the Livingston family from Ashburn.

Why it matters

The plane crash was a devastating tragedy that impacted the tight-knit figure skating community in Northern Virginia, which had strong ties to many of the victims. The memorial sculpture and annual commemoration at the Ashburn Ice House aim to keep the memory of the lost skaters and their families alive.

The details

The silver sculpture features two figure skaters holding up a candle, which will be lit every year on the anniversary of the crash. Seventeen of the victims had connections to the Ashburn Ice House and the MedStar Capital Iceplex in Arlington. Among the victims were sisters Alydia and Everly Livingston, talented young skaters from Ashburn who were attending a national competition and development camp in Wichita, Kansas with their parents when the tragedy occurred.

  • The plane crash happened on January 29, 2025.
  • The one-year anniversary of the crash was commemorated on January 29, 2026.

The players

Kitty McGorry

A coach at the Ashburn Ice House who is remembering the victims.

Alexis Winch

A skater and friend of the Livingston sisters who died in the crash.

Alydia Livingston

A talented young skater from Ashburn who died in the plane crash.

Everly Livingston

The sister of Alydia Livingston, another talented young skater who died in the plane crash.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard for me to imagine it's been one year. It feels like it's been 10 days or 10 years.”

— Kitty McGorry, Coach

“I know that they're still, like, skating up in heaven and they're probably still with us. It's just I miss them a lot.”

— Alexis Winch, Skater

What’s next

The Ashburn Ice House said it will light the candle on the sculpture every year to commemorate the anniversary of the plane crash.

The takeaway

The memorial sculpture and annual commemoration at the Ashburn Ice House demonstrate the lasting impact of the tragic plane crash on the tight-knit figure skating community in Northern Virginia, who are committed to honoring the memory of the lost skaters, coaches, and families.