"This is going to be really hard on our skating community for a very, very long time," said Wichita Skating Club President Jolene Taylor. "You don't think that tomorrow they might not be here."

Sean O'Reilly, general manager of the Wichita Ice Center, said his team got to know numerous athletes who had been in Wichita for a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Just days after figure skaters, family and coaches from across the United States came together in Wichita, a tragic plane crash has left the U.S. Figure Skating community reeling.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu hugs an attendee at a prayer vigil for victims of American Airlines flight 5342. Photo: nick oxford/Reuters