American Figure Skater Barred from American Airlines Flight Involved in Helicopter Collision
An American figure skater was barred from a flight that collided with a helicopter near Reagan International Airport. Jon Maravilla drove 14 hours home after being denied boarding due to his dog.
Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., provided an update on Fox & Friends regarding the collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan International Airport on Thursday night.
An American figure skater, Jon Maravilla, was barred from boarding the flight involved in the incident. Maravilla stated to Russia's Sputnik that he was denied entry due to his dog being too large. Consequently, he opted to drive 14 hours from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C.
Maravilla expressed his frustration on Instagram, posting, "Not allowed past gate to board flight. Get me tf out of Kansas please." He started his long journey soon after.
Maravilla also mentioned to RIA Novosti that there were approximately 14 figure skaters on the plane along with their parents and coaches. "Such a tragedy," he remarked.
The American Airlines flight had at least 60 individuals on board during the incident. U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several members of their community were aboard the flight. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships," the organization stated.
U.S. Figure Skating further expressed their devastation over the tragedy, stating, "We hold the victims' families closely in our hearts and will continue to monitor the situation for further updates."
