Ilia Malinin’s Tribute to Skating Crash Victims Leaves Fans in Tears and Sparks Viral Reaction
Figure skater Ilia Malinin's emotional routine honors victims of the tragic Potomac River plane crash
United States figure skating star and reigning world champion Ilia Malinin paid tribute to the lives lost on January 29, 2025, as members of United States figure skating clubs perished in an air traffic collision. Now, his emotional performance is going viral, as are his poignant words about the close friends lost to the tragedy. Keep reading for everything we know about Malinin’s tribute and what he said about the heartbreaking loss.
Ilia Malinin’s viral tribute to the victims of the American Airlines Potomac crash
Just a month into 2025, the country came to a standstill when news broke of a deadly collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Blackhawk helicopter. Both vessels crashed into the Potomac River, killing stars and family members of United States figure skating clubs—as well as military personnel—aboard. The figure skating community rallied together in order to raise money for the victims’ families, resulting in the Legacy on Ice benefit performance. Malinin, naturally, was a standout performer.
The skater—known for his unique song choices and incredible technical skills—performed to the song “HOPE” by rapper NF, an unusual pick for a skating routine but one that allowed him to pour emotion into the performance. See Malinin’s incredible routine here.
Ilia Malinin reflects on the plane crash
The figure skater, who was greatly impacted by the Potomac plane crash, opened up about how he’s been dealing with the loss of so many skating hopefuls, explaining the toll the tragedy has taken on the tight-knit sport.
“It’s definitely an emotional moment for us,” Malinin shared. “It’s very heartbreaking for all of us in the skating community that this happened.”
The American Airlines flight was leaving a competition in Wichita, Kansas, one that was attended by Malinin and many of his friends. While Malinin flew home to Virginia earlier than most, several of his friends and fellow skaters were on that fateful flight.
“They looked up to me as their role model, and it’s very heartbreaking to see that I wouldn’t be able to see them anymore,” he said. “I still can’t really process the thoughts and emotions of them not being here anymore.”
The purpose of the Legacy on Ice benefit, which took place on March 2, 2025, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., was to honor victims of the crash and support their families and the first responders. Malinin shared how he hopes the figure skating sport and communities can continue to grow while keeping their lost friends in mind.
“We want to continue this sport and want to continue to grow, just for them,” Malinin explained. “Really skate for them and really keep them in our heads all the time, and just really think of them when we’re on the ice.”
Who is Ilia Malinin?
As the son of Olympic skaters Tatiana Malinina and Roman Skorniakov, it is no surprise that Malinin has turned out to be the 2024 and 2025 World Champion. The skater has won multiple medals, both at the national and international levels, and is a skater to watch as he continues to defy technical expectations of the sport.
The Virginia-born skater first took to the ice at age 6, coached by his parents, and now, at age 20, Malinin has taken the skating world by storm. He is the only figure skater, male or female, to have successfully landed the quadruple Axel, which is considered skating’s most difficult jump, in a competition.
While Malinin hasn’t made it to the Olympic stage just yet, he is a strong contender for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which are set to take place in Milan.
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