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The Fairfax skating community is mourning 16-year-old friends Edward Zhou and Cory Haynos, two promising athletes killed when an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

The Woodson High School students skated at Fairfax Ice Arena and belonged to the Skating Club of Northern Virginia. They were among 14 skaters returning from Wichita, Kansas, after attending the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and participating in a development camp for young athletes.

Both teenagers also lost their parents in the crash. Kaiyan Mao and Yu Zhou were traveling with Edward, while Stephanie and Roger Haynos were aboard with Cory.

PSA Airlines Flight 5342 was about 15 seconds from landing around 9 p.m. when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter. The plane broke apart, and both aircraft plunged into the icy Potomac River.

All 60 passengers and four crew members on the plane died, along with the helicopter’s three soldiers.

Fairfax Ice Arena said it was “saddened and devastated” by the loss of members of its community, describing them as some of the country’s brightest rising figure-skating stars.

Edward Zhou remembered for kindness and determination

Edward began skating at age 6 and developed a reputation for fearlessly attempting new skills. Coaches remembered him smiling and laughing after falls, while fellow skaters knew him for enthusiastically supporting them.

Cat Boyett, a Woodson junior who met Edward in seventh grade at Frost Middle School, said his “unyielding kindness” stood out.

“He was one of the most outgoing people,” Cat said. “Whenever I saw him in the halls at school, he’d give me the biggest smile and wave. His smile was infectious and just lit up the room.”

The two skated together at Fairfax Ice Arena until Edward moved to MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. He had previously reached the National Development Team and earned his place at the Wichita camp through the National Qualifying Series.

Cat learned Thursday morning that Edward had been on the flight.

“I had this sinking horror and realization that Edward wasn’t coming back from Wichita,” Cat said. “I had to leave school early — I was crying all day.”

At Fairfax Ice Arena, flowers quickly accumulated around a memorial table. Poster boards displayed photographs of Edward, Cory, Olivia Ter and Brielle Beyer, allowing visitors to leave messages. Videos of the four skaters were also shown.

Olivia, 12, was traveling with her mother, Olesya, from Maryland. Brielle, also 12, was aboard with her mother, Justyna, of Aldie.

“Last week, I was watching Olivia skate,” Cat said. “It’s just so surreal that I won’t see them again.”

Edward was also an accomplished pianist and an outstanding student. Piano teacher Livia Lai began teaching him when he was 3 and remembered him as funny, intelligent, compassionate, curious, enthusiastic and kind.

At Woodson, Edward took advanced courses including AP chemistry and computer science and hoped to pursue a STEM career. Shortly before his death, he earned a perfect score on an AP chemistry test and told Cat he was finally getting comfortable with computer science. In November, he landed his first triple lutz.

“He exuded so much joy,” Cat said, recalling both his playful side and his thoughtfulness. For Cat’s 16th birthday, Edward selected a seafoam-green Polaroid camera because he knew it was their favorite color.

Shari Boyett, Cat’s mother, said Edward’s parents came from China for graduate school and a better life. After waiting a long time to have a child, they considered Edward their “precious jewel.”

Cat plans to honor him by continuing to skate and work toward academic goals.

“I’ll hold the love Edward had for skating in my mind,” Cat said.

Cory Haynos reached a milestone before his final flight

Cory qualified for the Wichita training camp after placing third in his division at a sectional competition in Massachusetts the previous November. He trained under former Swedish national medalists Kalle Strid and Mikael Olofsson.

On the camp’s final day — one day before the crash — Cory landed a triple axel.

He was remembered as a powerful skater who dreamed of reaching the national championships. His parents were deeply involved in that pursuit. Stephanie served on the Skating Club of Northern Virginia’s board, while Roger drove Cory to practices and competitions and edited music for his routines.

Friends said the couple frequently volunteered and proudly shared recordings of Cory’s performances. Roger had worked in information technology before retiring from Fairfax County Public Schools, while Stephanie had worked as a substitute teacher.

Cory is survived by his 19-year-old sister, Emily, a college student in Ohio. Friends and relatives expressed particular concern for her after she lost her parents and brother at once.

Sarah Hamilton, who sat near Cory’s parents at the national championships, said they spent hours discussing the challenge of balancing skating with high school and spoke proudly about their son’s accomplishments.

Haley Perez, who had known the family for about 12 years, remembered them as devoted members of the local skating community who helped wherever they could.

Matthew Alan LaRaviere, Roger’s cousin, said Roger’s love for his family and dedication to his children had always inspired him. He recalled the family’s excitement about Cory’s future and the hope that he might someday represent the United States at the Olympics.

Olga Garrity, who coached Cory and Emily, organized a fundraising effort seeking at least $50,000 to help Emily complete college and cover daily expenses. First Baptist Church of Kingstowne, attended by the Haynos family, also created a bereavement fund.

A rink grieves together

Fairfax Ice Arena held a private memorial Sunday where skaters could share memories of their friends. Counseling sessions were arranged at the rink, and Woodson High School made counselors available to students.

Leonard Tengco, a skating parent, said the arena’s coaches, employees, skaters and families become close as they watch young athletes grow into nationally competitive performers.

“The staff watched those kids grow up and blossom into nationally competitive skaters and are now left to endure the pain caused by their tragic end,” he wrote.

U.S. Figure Skating also established a family support fund to assist skating families directly affected by the crash.

For those closest to Edward and Cory, the loss extends far beyond medals and unfinished athletic ambitions. It has left empty places in classrooms, homes and a rink where two teenagers spent years pursuing their goals alongside friends who are now determined to preserve their memories.