Jinna Han, Rising Korean American Skater, Dies in Tragic Mid-Air Collision

On January 29, 2025, a tragic mid-air collision occurred near Washington, D.C., involving a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft. 

The PSA Airlines flight, operating under American Eagle, was en route from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. As the jet approached its destination, it collided with the Army helicopter, which was conducting a training mission. Both aircraft subsequently crashed into the Potomac River. 

Among the victims was promising Korean American figure skater Jinna Han, a dedicated athlete from Boston who trained at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Doug Zeghibe, the club's CEO, remembered her as a "wonderful kid" and a "great athlete, great competitor, loved by all." 

The collision also claimed the lives of other figure skaters, their parents, and coaches who were returning from a national training camp in Wichita, Kansas. Recovery efforts are ongoing, with authorities having retrieved the flight data recorders to determine the cause of the accident. 

Jinna Han was recognized for her dedication to figure skating. She participated in various competitions, including the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles. 

This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in recent U.S. history. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the collision.

For those wishing to remember Jinna Han's performances, here is a video of her Novice Women Free Skate at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles: