MOORHEAD (KFGO/KVRR) — “When we originally thought that maybe he was on that flight with his parents, everybody was pretty frazzled and upset,” said Dawn Franklin, Coach for Red River Valley Figure Skating Club.
On Wednesday, an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with an Army helicopter, just seconds before it was to land at Reagan National Airport. There were 64 people on-board, including two former Russian world champion figure skaters, the parents of Maxim Naumov.
“When we first started bringing Max to Moorhead to skate here, I was lining it up through his dad. And I did get to visit with them a few times and he was just a very respectful, nice person,” said Franklin.
Naumov performed as a guest skater in the Moorhead Ice Show in 2023 and 2024. His parents were his coaches.
“The skaters had the opportunity to take lessons from him while he was here and he went to all the ice show parties, he hung out with the rink guys after the show and everyone loved him so. We’re all pretty devastated for him for his loss,” said Franklin.
Naumov’s parents were traveling to Washington after attending the US Figure Skating Championships with their son in Kansas.
“When you know somebody and something like this happens and for our skaters locally just that every moment is important and counts and you never know what could happen,” said Franklin.
The Red River Valley Figure Skating Club is working to send their condolences to Naumov.
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