Young figure skater saved from doomed American Airlines flight because his dog was too big to board

A young American fig skater was saved from the doomed American Airlines formation that collided with an Army chopper after helium was barred from boarding the level due to the fact that his canine was excessively big.  

Jon Maravilla was acceptable to beryllium among the passengers connected committee Flight 5342, which plunged into Washington DC's Potomac River aft the midair collision with a Black Hawk chopper soon earlier 9pm ET Wednesday.  

The fig skater told RIA Novosti that aft helium was told helium couldn't bring his canine onboard, helium decided to instrumentality a car instead.

Maravilla posted astir the ordeal connected his Instagram communicative Wednesday, writing: 'Not allowed past gross to committee flight. Get maine tf retired of Kansas please.' 

In follow-up station astatine 12:23p from the road, helium wrote: '14-hour travel begins.' 

The fig skater told RIA Novosti that determination were astatine slightest 14 fig skaters connected committee the plane, arsenic good arsenic coaches and parents. 

'I don't privation to sanction names,' helium said, describing the incidental arsenic 'such a tragedy.' 

A ample fig of skaters had been successful the Wichita country for the US Figure Skating Championships, which were held past week arsenic the city's Intrust Bank Arena. 

The sport's nationalist governing body, US Figure Skating, confirmed that 'several members of our skating community' were connected the flight. 

'These athletes, coaches, and household members were returning location from the National Development Camp held successful conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships successful Wichita, Kansas,' they said successful a statement. 

'We are devastated by this unspeakable calamity and clasp the victims' families intimately successful our hearts. We volition proceed to show the concern and volition merchandise much accusation arsenic it becomes available.' 

Among the fig skaters connected committee the formation were married Russian fig skaters Yevgenia Shishkova, 53, and Vadim Naumov, 56. 

The mates won the satellite title successful pairs fig skating successful 1994. 

All 60 passengers and 4 unit subordinate aboard the flight, arsenic good arsenic 3 radical connected the helicopter, are believed to beryllium dead.

'Unfortunately we were not capable to rescue anyone,' said Jack Potter, Chief Executive of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

The level collided with the Black Hawk chopper conscionable 400ft supra the crushed arsenic the level approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport soon earlier 9pm ET. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the clang 'preventable.'

'I would accidental that the chopper was alert that the level was successful the area,' Duffy said.

'We are going to hold for each the accusation to travel successful from this vantage point, but… what I've seen truthful far, bash I deliberation this was preventable? Absolutely.'

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom appeared to blasted the Black Hawk aviator for being successful the incorrect place.

'At this time, we don't cognize wherefore the subject craft came into the way of the PSA aircraft,' helium said.

PSA Airlines is simply a determination subsidiary of AA that flies tiny planes connected lesser-used routes.