UN expresses condolences to relatives of Russians killed in US plane crash

The United Nations (UN) is devastated by reports of the US plane crash and, knowing that there are Russians among the dead, condolences to the relatives who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. This was stated by the official representative of the head of the world organization Stephane Dujarric on January 30.

"We are devastated by reports of the deaths of dozens of people in the tragic collision of a civilian airplane and a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington," he said at a briefing.

Dujarric noted that in addition to USA citizens, there were also citizens of other states, in particular Russian Federation, on board.

"We express our condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones", he noted.

Interrupted flight: Russian figure skaters were among the dead in the plane crash in the USA

Yevgeniya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board, the names of the other passengers are being investigated

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said Washington was in contact with Moscow on the topic of the plane crash. With Russian President Vladimir Putin, the American leader at the same time did not contact. Trump confirmed that there were Russians and citizens of other states on board the plane, no one survived the collision of the two aircraft.

On the night of January 30, near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter Black Hawk collided, after the accident they fell into the Potomac River. A total of 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the plane. There were three military personnel in the helicopter. NBC News reported that the bodies of more than 30 victims were recovered from the water.

It was later reported that eight skaters and four coaches were tentatively on the plane. The Boston Figure Skating Club said the coaches, world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board, along with hopeful junior skaters and their parents. In addition to them, former figure skater Inna Volyanskaya was on the plane.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the plane and helicopter crash could have been prevented. The same opinion is held by Trump, who believes that the collision could have been avoided if the helicopter had changed course. Tatyana Tarasova, the USSR's honored figure skating coach, called this information terrible news. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there were Russian citizens on board the plane.