King Charles has expressed deep sorrow after a devastating mid-air collision over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. claimed the lives of 67 people.
In a heartfelt statement released by Buckingham Palace, the monarch said: “My family and I have been profoundly shocked and saddened by the dreadful news of the tragic air accident in Washington D.C., which has resulted in such a devastating loss of life.”
All 67 individuals on board both aircraft tragically perished, with recovery efforts still underway. Authorities confirmed at a Friday press conference that 41 victims’ bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River.
The ill-fated airliner had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying several notable passengers, including figure skaters and their coaches returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Among the victims were former world champion Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
In a statement, U.S. Figure Skating expressed their grief: “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also extended his condolences, stating: “I am deeply shocked by the tragic scenes coming out of Washington D.C. My thoughts are with all those on board and their families desperately waiting for news. I pay tribute to the emergency services for their dedicated work in such challenging conditions and send the UK’s condolences to the United States at this time.”
The cause of the collision is currently under investigation. While such inquiries typically take up to a year to conclude, officials hope to release preliminary findings within the next 30 days.
