67 people recently passed away in the worst aviation disaster that occurred in decades in the United States. The list of those who passed away as a result of the accident is devastating to hear.
Two young children who died in that crash included Everly and Alydia Livingston. Those young skaters died along with their parents, Donna and Peter.
According to reports from a local news station, Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two daughters, Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, were among those on board American Airlines Flight 5342 when it crashed into the Black Hawk helicopter and plunged into the Potomac River.
The young girls were figure skaters who had a considerable amount of talent. They belonged to the Washington Figure Skating Club and trained at a local skating community in Virginia, the Ashburn Ice House.
A picture of the girls together was captured by their father and shared on Instagram. It was taken in Kansas and it shows one of the many memories that was shared by the family as they traveled together.
These girls made more of a name for themselves than what they did on the ice. They also had a following on social media and were often referred to as the “Ice Skating Sisters”.
Five days before the plane crash, they share their final Instagram post. The two sisters were smiling on the ice rink at the championships and wearing their lanyards.
The caption reads: “If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this. But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”
Last year, Everly, who was 13 years old spoke about the achievements she had on the ice. She was becoming a well-known figure in the ice-skating world and she shared her thoughts on the beauty of the sport as well as the challenges.
With a big smile on her face, she said: “My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world.”
A number of members of the US Figure Skating community world were on the flight and it wasn’t long before tributes came flowing in. There is also a memorial at the Ashburn Ice House that shows how much the tragedy affected those who knew them.
In a statement, the Ashburton Ice House’s management said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to all affected. The figure skating community is a close-knit, worldwide family, and our hearts are broken.”
The impact of the loss will be felt by many. May they rest in peace.
