U.S. Figure Skating is confirming several members of its skating community are among the victims of the Washington D.C. plane crash. One local figure skater said she knows firsthand just how much these individuals meant to the sport.

Two Russian figure skating coaches with strong Connecticut ties were among those killed after an American Airlines flight and Army helicopter collided and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River Wednesday night.

A pair of young figure skaters, their mothers, and two Russian coaches were among the 60 passengers on board the jet.