Dancing On Ice judge Christopher Dean choked back tears as he paid a heartfelt tribute to the 17 skaters who tragically died in a Washington DC plane crash on Wednesday.

During Sunday’s show the 66-year-old struggled to contain his emotion as he honoured his fellow athletes and said the devastating accident that had been felt ‘all around the world’.   

American Airlines flight 5342 was moments from touching down when it collided with a Black Hawk Army helicopter. It immediately went up in flames and both aircrafts crashed into the Potomac River below. Authorities say there are no survivors.

A tearful Christopher said: ‘It’s unbelievably sad, 17 of the skating community it’s felt all around the world’.

‘We and all our dancing on ice family want to send our thoughts to the family and friends of those involved’.

Among the pᴀssengers were married couple Evgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, who won the World Figure Skating Championship in pairs in 1994.

Dancing On Ice judge Christopher Dean choked back tears as he paid a heartfelt tribute to the 17 skaters who tragically died in a Washington DC plane crash on Wednesday

American Airlines flight 5342 was moments from touching down when it collided with a Black Hawk Army helicopter. It immediately went up in flames and both aircrafts crashed into the Potomac River below. Authorities say there are no survivors 

They were travelling back to DC on Flight 5342 after attending the US Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.

It comes after a member of the US figure skating team shared a pH๏τo from inside a doomed American Airlines plane shortly before it crashed.

Spencer Lane, 26, uploaded the pH๏τo around 7pm ET Wednesday, which appeared to show the jet taxiing on the runway at Wichita Airport in Kansas before it took off for its final flight. 

He captioned it ICT -> DCA – the codes for Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Other elite members of the American figure skating team who were expected at the next winter Olympics were also onboard the plane, a bombardier CRJ700.

They were returning home to the DC area after attending a National Development Camp for young skaters in Wichita, Kansas. 

Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Skhiskhkova and Vadim Naumov, who mentored Lane, are also believed to have been on the plane.

Their Team USA figure skater son Maxim 23, was at the Wichita camp although it is unclear if he was also on the fateful flight. 

A tearful Christopher said: ‘It’s unbelievably sad, 17 of the skating community it’s felt all around the world’.

Among the pᴀssengers were married couple Evgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56, who won the World Figure Skating Championship in pairs in 1994 

Other elite members of the American figure skating team who were expected at the next winter Olympics were also onboard the plane, a bombardier CRJ700. (stock)

It comes after a member of the US figure skating team shared a pH๏τo from inside a doomed American Airlines plane shortly before it crashed 

Flight 5342, which had 64 people aboard, collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter as it made its final approach to Reagan Airport after 9pm ET.

It split in three and plunged into waist-deep water in the icy Potomac River.

Read More World champion figure skaters were on board American Airlines jet that crashed into Black Hawk

So far, 28  bodies have been pulled from the frigid waters with the death toll expected to rise substantially as officials revealed they are switching from rescue to recovery efforts.

Everyone aboard the jet carrying 60 pᴀssengers and four crew members is feared ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in what was likely to be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century, officials said Thursday. 

The Black Hawk was on a training sortie, with experts questioning why it flew towards the American Airlines American Eagle jet.

The crash occurred in some of the most тιԍнтly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over 3 miles south of the White House and the US Capitol. 

Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked a helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. The controller made another radio call to the helicopter moments later: ‘PAT 25 pᴀss behind the CRJ.’ 

There was no reply. Seconds after that, the two aircraft collided.

DANCING ON ICE 2025: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

FERNE MCCANN 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: Reality TV star 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m so excited, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I’m excited for the glitz and glamour of the show.’

SIR STEVE REDRGAVE

AGE: 62

PROFESSION: Former Olympic rower 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘It’s like going back to being an athlete again, I’ve been competing most of my life.’

CHARLIE BROOKS 

AGE: 43

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’ve skated when I was a kid and with mulled wine at Christmas. Until I get on the ice I have no idea how I’m going to be. I’m not that strong.’

 

 ANTON FERDINAND

 AGE: 39

PROFESSION: Footballer and pundit

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: Dancing On Ice will give me that focus but I’m also doing it for my daughter because she loves dance and performing arts.’

 

 CHRIS TAYLOR

Age: 34

PROFESSION: Reality star

 WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m somewhere between absolutely terrified and very excited and I keep flitting between the two quite aggressively throughout the day. I’ve not even started stretching yet, I need to.’

 

CHELSEE HEALEY 

 AGE: 36

PROFESSION: Actress

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m ready, I’m good to go, let’s go! I’ve got a bit of rhythm but skating on ice is completely different, I’m excited. 

MOLLIE PEARCE 

 AGE: 22

PROFESSION: Reality TV star and model

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It will be fun, I want to challenge myself, I’m ready for the challenge.’

SAM ASTON 

AGE: 31 

PROFESSION: Soap star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘Anyone at work who I’ve spoken to has done it have all kind of the same thing that it is a great experience and it is really hard, and it’s tiring and tough but it is brilliant as well.’

JOSH JONES

AGE: 31

PROFESSION: Comedian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY? ‘I’ve not got any skating experience whatsoever, I did it once for a date years ago and I wasn’t very good, I was holding onto the railings the entire time and we aren’t together now.’

 

 MICHAELA STRACHAN 

 

 AGE: 58

PROFESSION: Television presenter

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge, I think the last time I was on ice was 14 years ago, because I trained as a dancer, I’ve got a bit of balance, but I have no idea whether I’m going to be good.’

 

DAN EDGAR 

AGE: 34

PROFESSION: TOWIE star

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m looking forward to it but the thought of the live shows and performing is very real.’

 

DAME SARAH STOREY 

AGE: 46

PROFESSION: Paralympian 

WHAT DID THEY SAY?: ‘I’m excited to learn a new skill and have the opportunity to put myself out there and learn a new sport.’