The United States is still grappling with the aftermath of its worst aviation disaster in decades.
Among the 67 lives lost in Wednesday night’s tragic plane crash in D.C. were sisters Everly and Alydia Livingston, along with their parents, Donna and Peter.
The Livingston family was just one of many who fell victim to this heartbreaking catastrophe.
Final Post on Social Media
Pennsylvania-based news station WTAJ reports that Donna Smojice Livingston, her husband Peter, and their two daughters, Everly (14) and Alydia (11), were among the passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342.
According to the Daily Mail, Everly and Alydia were talented figure skaters and dedicated members of the Washington Figure Skating Club. They trained at the Ashburn Ice House, a central hub for their local skating community in Virginia.
Just days before the tragic crash, their father captured a heartfelt photo of the girls in Kansas—one of many treasured memories of their love for life and skating.
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The sisters’ passion for skating went beyond the ice—they were well-known on social media as the adored “Ice Skating Sisters.”
Their final Instagram post, uploaded just five days before the heartbreaking accident, showed them beaming in front of the rink at the championships, proudly displaying their ‘athlete’ lanyards.
“If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this,” the caption read. “But is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”
Just last year, 13-year-old Everly spoke with FOX 5 DC about her accomplishments in figure skating, quickly making a name for herself as a rising star in the sport. In a heartfelt interview, she reflected on both the challenges and beauty of skating, sharing her dreams for the future.
“My goals are to actually be a part of Team USA and travel around the world,” she said, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
A family friend recalls cherished memories.
U.S. Figure Skating has confirmed that several members of their community were among those on board the flight, prompting an outpouring of tributes. A memorial at the Ashburn Ice House continues to grow, symbolizing the profound loss felt by many.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to all affected,” the Ashburn Ice House’s management shared in a statement. “The figure skating community is a close-knit, worldwide family, and our hearts are broken.”
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The Nittany Valley Figure Skating Club shared their sorrow in a social media post, saying: “Many of us have lost personal friends. We will hold a moment of silence at our next Club Ice in honor of those we’ve lost.”
Cassandra Atkins, a family friend and designer from Australia, crafted custom skating outfits for the sisters through her brand, Frozen Couture. Though she never had the chance to meet the family in person, she regularly stayed in touch with Donna, exchanging photos and videos of Everly and Alydia.
Their mother, Donna, worked at Comcast, while their father, Peter, was a real estate agent. Both were known for their unwavering dedication, juggling the demands of raising two competitive skaters while spending countless nights in hotels, traveling between New Jersey, Michigan, and Virginia in recent months.
“Donna was the perfect mom,” Atkins told WFLA. “The girls were her world. They loved bright, standout outfits and always brought so much joy to the ice.”
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She also shared that the sisters were constantly on the move, even off the rink.
“If they weren’t skating, they were roller skating—or they’d put wheels on their boots. They always found a way to move.”