It’s one of those stories that stops you mid-scroll. You see two sisters, smiling in front of a rink, badges around their necks, looking like they’ve got the whole world figured out. Then you read the date. On January 29, 2025, the figure skating world didn't just lose two promising athletes; it lost a family. Everly and Alydia Livingston weren't just names on a competition roster. They were the "Ice Skating Sisters," a duo whose journey from a backyard rink in Virginia to the national stage in Wichita ended in a tragedy that still feels surreal a year later.
The details of the crash are horrific. An American Airlines regional flight, a mid-air collision with a military Black Hawk helicopter, and a plunge into the Potomac River. 67 lives gone. But for the skating community, this was personal. It was a plane full of kids coming back from a dream.
The Livingston Iceplex: Where It All Started
Peter Livingston didn't just sign his daughters up for lessons; he basically built them a world to thrive in. When Everly was born, Peter told friends he was going to build a rink in the backyard. Most people probably thought he was joking or just being a "girl dad" with big ideas. He wasn't. He built it. He called it the "Livingston Iceplex."
That’s where Everly, 14, and Alydia, 11, really learned the craft. Peter was a hockey guy, a realtor who loved the game, and he initially just wanted them on skates. But once they pivoted to figure skating, he and his wife Donna went all in. We’re talking homeschooling, daily trips to the Ashburn Ice House, and a life organized entirely around ice time.
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Honestly, the commitment was staggering.
They weren't just "rink rats." They were elite.
Two Different Souls on the Same Ice
If you followed their Instagram, @ice_skating_sisters, you saw the contrast. Alydia, or "Liddy," was a firecracker. She was the one making jokes, striking poses, and acting like a "little nervous ball of energy" that exploded into charisma the second the music started. She was into ice dance and had just recently found a new partner before the accident. She wanted to be in Disney on Ice.
Everly was the "shy" one. At least, she was shy until she stepped onto the ice. Then she was a machine. She was an intermediate women’s competitor who had just placed fourth at the 2025 Eastern Sectional Singles Final. Her dream? The Olympics. She had this quiet, steely resolve that earned her an invitation to the National Development Camp in Wichita—the very event they were returning from.
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The Final Flight of AA 5342
The Livingston family usually didn't travel together for these events. Often, it would just be one parent and one child to manage the schedules. But for this trip to Wichita, Kansas, they were all there. Peter, Donna, Everly, and Alydia.
They were flying home on American Airlines Flight 5342.
Just 30 minutes before boarding, Peter sent a text to a friend.
Routine. Normal.
Then, the unthinkable happened over the Potomac.
The crash took out 14 members of the figure skating community in total. This included their coach, Inna Volyanskaya, and Everly’s skating partner, Franco Aparicio. It’s hard to wrap your head around that kind of localized loss. It wasn't just a family; it was a whole ecosystem of talent and mentorship wiped out in a single collision.
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Why the Livingston Legacy Still Matters
People still talk about that final Instagram post. The one where they joked about whether US Figure Skating was "ready for this much Livingston at Nationals." It’s a gut punch because they were ready. They were the future of the sport in the DMV area.
What we can learn from Everly and Alydia Livingston isn't just about the tragedy of their end. It’s about how they lived. They were kids who rollerskated in the streets during COVID to lift people’s spirits. They were students who worked hard enough to be "elite" while still being the "funniest kids at the rink."
How to Honor Their Memory
If you're looking for ways to keep their spirit alive or support the community they loved, here is what is actually happening:
- Support Local Skating Clubs: The Washington Figure Skating Club and the Skating Club of Northern Virginia continue to support the families and athletes affected. Donating to their scholarship funds helps other kids reach for the Olympic dreams Everly held.
- The Inna Volyanskaya Memorial: Coaches like Inna were the backbone of their success. Many rinks are holding "memorial ice" sessions to honor the coaches lost in the crash.
- Share Their Story, Not Just the Tragedy: Follow the archives of their journey. Remember them as the sisters who conquered the backyard rink before they ever hit the national stage.
The "Ice Skating Sisters" showed us what it looks like when a family fully backs a dream. It’s a legacy of effort, laughter, and a lot of cold mornings at the rink. Even now, when you pass the Potomac or walk into an ice house in Virginia, you can still feel the weight of what was lost—and the inspiration of what they built.