Two competitive figure-skating sisters were among the victims of the recent plane collision in Washington, D.C. The siblings had just competed in a championship in Wichita and were heading home when tragedy struck.
Reports confirmed that Peter Livingston, his wife Donna Smojice Livingston, and their daughters—11-year-old Alydia and 14-year-old Everly—were among those who lost their lives in the American Airlines crash. Their last social media post, dated January 24, featured them posing at their recent competition.
Family friend Cassandra Atkins, who designed their skating outfits, frequently exchanged messages with Donna. “Donna was the most perfect mom. Those girls were everything to her,” she shared. Their last conversation involved designing new outfits, with Donna mentioning her daughters’ love for bright colors on the ice.
The Skating Lesson Facebook page mourned the sisters, highlighting Alydia’s growing ice dancing career and Everly’s championship titles. Alydia, the youngest skater on the flight, was known for her lively personality and determination. Everly, more reserved, excelled in competition. Their parents were devoted supporters, traveling extensively for their daughters’ skating aspirations.
The family’s love for skating was evident from an early age. A 2022 Facebook post showed them playing in the snow, revealing that their father built them an ice rink each year. Everly was even interviewed by Fox5 about her passion for the sport. The parents had also launched a YouTube channel in 2018 to document their daughters’ progress.
The tragedy occurred on January 29 when an American Airlines plane collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. The FAA reported that the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet struck a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter around 9 p.m. while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport.
Among the 64 victims were skaters, coaches, and families returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Authorities had recovered 28 bodies by Thursday, transitioning to a recovery mission with no survivors expected.
Several U.S. Figure Skating members were identified among the deceased, including Spencer Lane and his mother, 13-year-old Jinna Han and her mother, and multiple coaches and athletes from various clubs. Jinna, a talented skater, had competed in the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final and was praised for her poise and technical skills.
The Washington Figure Skating Club confirmed the loss of Everly, Alydia, and other members. Their coach, Inna Volyanskaya, also perished. U.S. Figure Skating released a statement expressing heartbreak, saying, “We hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts.”
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the collision, with the NTSB leading the probe.