Community Gathers in Boston to Remember Potomac Crash Victims

Ceremony at Boston Common honors 67 lives lost, including 6 from local skating club

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:47pm

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One year after a midair collision over the Potomac River killed 67 people, including members of the Skating Club of Boston, the local skating community gathered at the Boston Common for a public tribute to remember those who lost their lives. The ceremony featured the reading of 28 names of U.S. skating community members who died in the crash, as well as reflections from skaters on the loss and the strengthening of the community in the wake of the tragedy.

Why it matters

The Potomac crash was a devastating loss for the tight-knit skating community, with six members of the Skating Club of Boston among the victims. The ceremony in Boston Common allowed the public to grieve alongside the skating community and highlighted the resilience and unity that has emerged from the tragedy.

The details

The midair collision occurred when a Black Hawk helicopter struck an American Airlines flight over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board. Investigators later determined the crash was preventable. The Boston ceremony featured the reading of 28 names of U.S. skating community members who died, as well as reflections from skaters like Jimmy Ma on the loss and the newfound appreciation for their community that has emerged.

  • The crash occurred one year ago, on January 30, 2025.
  • The Boston Common ceremony was held on the one-year anniversary of the crash, on January 30, 2026.

The players

Skating Club of Boston

A local skating club that lost six members in the Potomac crash.

Jimmy Ma

A U.S. figure skating team member who reflected on the loss and the strengthening of the skating community.

Maura Healey

The Governor of Massachusetts, who attended the Boston Common tribute and praised the resilience of the skating community.

Doug Zeghibe

The CEO and Executive Director of the Skating Club of Boston, who expressed disbelief at the preventable nature of the crash.

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What they’re saying

“We never get to appreciate what we really, really have in front of us.”

— Jimmy Ma, U.S. figure skating team member (nbcboston.com)

“I was just so struck by the strength and the resilience of the community of the Boston skating club, and it's a model for Massachusetts and this country, in terms of what community really looks like.”

— Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts (nbcboston.com)

“At a disbelief when you hear from the hearings and the reports how senseless this was. You hope that there's going to be significant change — and not change that is publicized but never really happens, but change that is actual, real, and is acted up upon and is long-term.”

— Doug Zeghibe, CEO and Executive Director, Skating Club of Boston (nbcboston.com)

What’s next

Three members of the Skating Club of Boston have made the Olympic team and are set to compete in Milan Cortina starting next week.

The takeaway

The Potomac crash tragedy has brought the Boston skating community closer together, strengthening their bonds and resolve to honor the memory of those lost. The ceremony at Boston Common showcased the resilience and unity of the skating community, serving as a model for how communities can come together in the face of devastating loss.