(NewsNation) — Douglas Lane, who lost his son, Spencer, in the Washington, D.C., plane crash, said he had dreams of competitive figure skating.
“(Spencer) was really just kind of a force of nature,” said Douglas Lane.
His father said that despite getting a relatively late start in figure skating, Spencer was determined to follow his passion.
“Even though people train since they’re a small child, and it takes them years and years to develop skills, he just started,” said Douglas. “And three years later, he’s in Wichita, Kansas, on the national development team for U.S. figure skating, training with former world champions.”
The FAA said the midair crash occurred before 9 p.m. ET in some of the most tightly controlled and monitored airspace in the world, just over 3 miles south of the White House and the Capitol.
American Airlines Flight 5342 was inbound to Reagan National at an altitude of about 400 feet and a speed of about 140 mph when it rapidly lost altitude over the Potomac River, according to data from its radio transponder.
Spencer’s coaches were also on board the flight, according to his father.
“Wonderful people,” Douglas said of the coaches. “Former world champions from Russia and some other skaters. And so it’s just devastating.”
