Augusta, Ga. — The figure-skating community, both locally and nationally, is reeling from the loss of more than a dozen of its members in a tragic collision between a plane and a helicopter Wednesday night at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C.

The crash claimed the lives of at least 14 individuals, all of whom were returning from a figure skating event in Kansas. Among the deceased were two Georgians: the pilot of the jet and a soldier aboard the Blackhawk helicopter. The crash has left both the local Augusta area and the broader CSRA in mourning as the community comes to terms with the magnitude of the loss.

One local resident, Laurie Crane, a former figure skater, expressed the shock and sadness many are feeling. Crane was first alerted to the news of the crash by her husband, who woke her in the early hours of the morning. “My husband woke me up this morning and said that there was a plane crash, which was already devastating to hear that,” Crane said. “But then I found out it hit closer to home.”

The victims were returning from the Kansas event, where they had gathered to participate in a major competition. The crash’s impact has been felt deeply throughout the figure skating world, as many of the individuals on the plane were not only skaters but also coaches, officials, and supporters who dedicated their lives to the sport.

As the news continues to spread, former skaters, coaches, and other members of the figure skating community have begun to rally together to honor the lives lost. Laurie Crane, who plans to help organize a memorial event in March, is one of many hoping to celebrate the lives and legacies of the victims. “They meant so much to the sport, and to lose them so suddenly and tragically is a blow to all of us,” Crane said.

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, but the grief felt by those affected is undeniable. For those who knew the victims, the pain is compounded by the personal connection they had to the people who gave so much to the sport. The community has united in their shared loss, and plans for a memorial are already underway as they work to honor the memory of their fallen friends and colleagues.

As more details about the crash and the victims emerge, the figure-skating world will continue to come together to support one another through this heartbreaking tragedy.