U.S. Skater Clarifies Report Dog Stopped Him From Boarding Fatal D.C. Flight

American figure skater Jon Maravilla is addressing reports that he was supposed to be on the American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter.

The Daily Mail claimed on Thursday, January 30, that the American pairs figure skater was scheduled to be on the plane flying to Washington D.C., but he was denied boarding due restrictions related to his dog.

Maravilla clarified to the Daily Beast that he did not have a ticket for that flight. He was actually slated to take a Delta flight to Atlanta before transferring to Detroit with his Bichon Frisé, Yuki. While the fact that his dog prevented him from boarding the Delta flight is true, he shared that it was unclear where the false reports originated from but he was devastated by the tragedy.

“I still can’t believe it,” he said. “I was just with them having them have lots of fun and just enjoying their time.”

News broke on Wednesday, January 29, that an airplane crashed into an Army helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport and fell into the Potomac River while trying to land. WUSA9 reported that more than “300 emergency crews” began conducting a search and rescue operation. More than a dozen bodies have since been recovered from the water.

There were reportedly 60 passengers and four crew members on Flight 5342, which left Kansas on Wednesday. The names of the athletes and coaches involved in the collision were not immediately shared, but The Skating Club of Boston has released the names of the American skaters associated with that organization. Doug Zeghibe, CEO and Executive Director, said in a statement, in part, “Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy.”

U.S. Figure Skating also released a statement: “U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. These athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

Maravilla, for his part, documented his travel journey via his Instagram Story, sharing an image from inside Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. “Not allowed past gate to board flight,” he wrote. “Get me tf out of Kansas please.”

In another alleged photo, he shared a glimpse of his drive. “14 hour journey begins,” Maravilla wrote via his Instagram Story, along with the timestamp that read, “12:23 p.m.”

Maravilla reportedly told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that there were “about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and coaches.” While not wanting to share the names of those who were on the aircraft, Maravilla said, “Such a tragedy.”

Some of the passengers aboard the flight were leaving the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which was held in Wichita from January 20 to January 26. The U.S. Figure Skating website shared that a reception was held to mark the induction of the Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.