The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that at least three of the crash victims held Russian passports. The spokesperson, Maria Sacharowa, announced on Friday that the ministry is verifying information about another passenger who may have held a Russian passport.
According to the ministry, the three crash victims who held Russian passports have been identified. The identity of the fourth individual is still being confirmed, with the ministry in contact with the US State Department to gather more information.
The department has been in touch with the US State Department, with responses so far being general in nature. Sacharowa extended condolences to the families of the victims.
On Wednesday evening, the American Airlines passenger jet crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a US military helicopter, the Sikorsky UH-60, during its approach to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It is believed that all 67 people on board the two aircraft have lost their lives, with no survivors expected.
Among the passengers were several figure skaters and their family members, as well as former Russian athletes who were working as coaches in the US, including Alexander Kirsanov, Evgenia Shishkova, Vadim Naumov and Inna Volynskaya. The US Figure Skating Association reported that around 15 of its athletes were on board.
The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, with flight recorders found and sent for analysis and experts hoping to glean information from the data. According to ABC, the flight recorders will provide insight into the crash’s cause.
The New York Times, citing a report from the aviation authority, stated that at the time of the collision, the air traffic controller at the airport was handling two positions simultaneously, responsible for both helicopters and aircraft on the runways.
US President Trump has lamented the delay in releasing information after such tragedies, saying it often takes too long to learn the cause of the crash.