Dad Honors Late Wife and Son with Tributes After Tragic Midair Crash

Doug Lane is creating lasting memorials to his loved ones and finding joy with his 13-year-old son Milo after losing his skating prodigy son and artist wife in a deadly plane accident.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:15pm

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In the year since a tragic airline accident claimed the lives of his wife Christine and oldest son Spencer, Doug Lane is creating lasting memorials to his loved ones. He's also focused on finding joy with his son Milo, now 13, including buying a boat as a "gift to future us" so they can enjoy time on the water. Lane has attended events to honor those who lost their lives, while allowing his son to grieve in his own way.

Why it matters

The story highlights how a family is coping with unimaginable loss and finding ways to honor their loved ones' memories, while also focusing on healing and finding happiness again. It touches on the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of community support in the face of tragedy.

The details

On January 29, 2025, Lane's older son Spencer, 16, and wife Christine, 49, boarded American Eagle flight 5342 to return home after a skating event. The plane collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in no survivors. In the year since, Lane has attended events to honor those who lost their lives, including a hearing to determine the probable cause of the crash and a special ice skating performance. He's also planning to get a dog park in their hometown named in Christine's honor and the Skate Club of Boston is working on a permanent memorial and scholarship in Spencer's name.

  • On January 29, 2025, the tragic midair collision occurred.
  • This month, Lane is planning to start working on getting a dog park in their hometown named in Christine's honor.
  • Earlier this month, Lane attended the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The players

Doug Lane

A 51-year-old father who lost his wife Christine and oldest son Spencer in the tragic midair collision. He is now focused on creating lasting memorials to his loved ones and finding joy with his 13-year-old son Milo.

Christine Lane

Doug's 49-year-old wife who died in the midair collision alongside their older son Spencer.

Spencer Lane

Doug and Christine's 16-year-old son who was a skating prodigy and died in the midair collision alongside his mother.

Milo Lane

Doug and Christine's 13-year-old son who is navigating grief in his own way after losing his mother and older brother.

Maxim Naumov

A young figure skater who lost both of his parents, who were Spencer's coaches, in the midair collision. Maxim qualified for the Olympics less than a year later, inspiring Doug.

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What they’re saying

“For (Maxim) to lose his coaches and parents and then less than a year later qualify for the Olympics is an amazing example of resilience and dedication.”

— Doug Lane

“Spencer's goal for this year was just to qualify for junior nationals. So it just felt to me he kind of accomplished his goal in a way, even though he wasn't there.”

— Doug Lane

What’s next

Lane plans to attend a special ice skating performance in Providence, Rhode Island, by the Skating Club of Boston on Friday to further honor those lost in the tragedy.

The takeaway

This story highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community support in the face of unimaginable tragedy. By creating lasting memorials and finding joy in the little things, Doug Lane is honoring his late wife and son while also focusing on healing and building a new life with his remaining son Milo.