2 University of Delaware Figure Skating Club members, former coach killed in plane crash near D.C.
The midair plane collision that killed 67 people near Washington, D.C., has rocked the figure skating community in the Delaware Valley and beyond.
The tragedy hits close to home for people at the University of Delaware.
In a statement, University President Dennis Assanis said in part, "I am incredibly saddened to share the news that several members of the figure skating community connected to the University of Delaware were among those who tragically lost their lives in an aircraft collision last night in Washington, D.C."
Delaware father remembers son, wife killed in crash
Vitali Kay said his wife Julia Kay and their son, 11-year-old Sean Kay, died in the crash.
"The plane was supposed to land at 9, and I called my wife and she didn't pick up," he said. "I thought maybe it was on airplane mode and she forgot to switch it off."
Kay said he rushed to Reagan National Airport from Bear, Delaware, after he matched the plane number, and when he arrived a police officer let him go right through the roadblock to get help from airport officials.
"Everyone was sincerely worried," he said.
"They deeply were feeling for you, they were understanding of what people might feel who has love ones on the plane," he recalled.
Kay said he met his wife in college and they have been together for more than 20 years. He said Julia was full of energy, and his son Sean loved to play guitar and knew everything about roller coasters.
He has three other children, who also compete on the ice. He said he told them to move forward in her honor.
"I had to deliver the news to them, right, and that was the phrase I used, 'Hey, Julia would want you to do this, to skate,'" he said.
Kay said his son practiced ice dancing at the Fred Rust Arena at the University of Delaware and was in Kansas for a camp with his coach, Sasha Kirsanov.
Coach remembered as beloved mentor
Kirsanov, a former coach at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, also died in the crash, the university said.
Kirsanov's daughter posted a picture on Instagram of him dancing with a partner. The post says, "I miss you Dad. I would do anything to bring you back and tell you that I loved you one more time."
The UD Figure Skating Club Team said in a post on Instagram that members were "shattered" at the "unimaginable loss of our former coach, Sasha, and two incredible skaters from our rink."
"Sasha was more than just a coach — he was a mentor, a friend and a light in the skating world. His passion for this sport was contagious, and his kindness, wisdom and unwavering belief in his skaters helped so many of us grow both on and off the ice," the post, attributed to the club's president, says in part.
In a statement, Sen. Chris Coons, who represents Delaware, said Angela Yang also died in the crash.
"I'm devastated to hear the news that at least three Delawareans died during last night's air collision," Coons said in the statement. "Sasha Kirsanov, Sean Kay and Angela Yang went to Wichita to pursue their passion for figure skating. It is a tragedy that none of them returned home to our state. Delaware is a state of neighbors, and tonight we hold all of our neighbors a little closer. My heart goes out to Sasha's wife Natalia, the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and every other Delawarean touched by the three of them."
Olivia Tennant, treasurer of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club, said Sean and another young skater were members of the club and ice danced at the Fred Rust Arena, the same facility in Newark where she figure skates every week.
"They were just so playful at the rink," Tennant said. "They would always come in with all this energy and doing crazy things on ice and we always stop and watch and appreciate them. Every time when their music was on I would just get out of the way because they were just so talented I wanted to watch them for sure, and I would always think, like they're going to make amazing skaters. They're going to go so far, so it's very heartbreaking to hear about them."
Tennant said she is still in disbelief.
"Knowing that we knew people who went to nationals and did the advance training camp, it was very shocking, very heartbreaking," Tennant said.
Other local skating communities mourn
Some of the figure skaters on the plane were also connected to IceWorks in Aston.
"While all involved were not club members at our rink, many spent time training at our facility and competing in our events," IceWorks said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."
Skaters from Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society are among the victims as well, the club said Thursday.
Tennant said it's important to stick together now more than ever, as the figure skating community continues to mourn.
"We all know how much it takes to be a figure skater, we're just very impressed by each other," Tennant said. "We're always inspired and what not. You just grow very close to these people you've known for years. So we all really have to be together."
