Baltimore Ravens star kicker Justin Tucker was accused in a bombshell report Thursday of sexual misconduct by several massage therapists during a period spanning four years, including his rookie season, when he helped the team win a Super Bowl. 

Six massage therapists in the Baltimore area accused the NFL kicker of exposing himself during sessions at four different high-end spas and wellness centers, brushing the alleged victims with his genitals and other acts of alleged sexual misconduct from 2012-2016.

The allegations were first revealed in a report by The Baltimore Banner.

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Tucker released a statement through his attorneys Thursday not long after the news broke, calling the allegations "unequivocally false."

"Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I have always sought to conduct myself with the utmost professionalism. I have never before been accused of misconduct of any kind, and I have never been accused of acting inappropriately in front of a massage therapist or during a massage therapy session or during other bodywork," Tucker’s statement said. 

"I have never received any complaints from a massage therapist, have never been dismissed from a massage therapy or bodywork session and have never been told that I was not welcome at any spa or other place of business." 

Tucker, a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro during his 13-year NFL career, took aim at the outlet’s reporting, calling it "desperate tabloid fodder." 

RAVENS STAR KICKER JUSTIN TUCKER SAYS STEELERS' FIELD CONDITIONS WEREN'T 'IDEAL' AFTER SHAKY PERFORMANCE

"It is no surprise that the paper’s interactions with me were marked by journalistic failures at every turn," Turner said. "When I first learned that the newspaper was writing this article, they refused to reveal the full claims they were planning to make against me. 

"It wasn’t until I was forced to hire the leading defamation law firm in the U.S. to write to the paper that they finally revealed what they were planning on writing. Then, when they did finally provide some of this information, they gave me next to no time to provide a response. It is clear why. They had no interest in what I (or anyone else) had to say." 

Tucker accused the outlet of "deliberately misconstruing events as nefarious" and relying on "third-party speculation."

"The newspaper had already written this false, salacious profile well before ever attempting to speak to me or any of the bodywork professionals I have worked with closely for the better part of the last decade. The newspaper made no effort to interview these key witnesses until prompted to do so by my defamation attorney because they did not want to hear what they had to say about me."

Fox News Digital reached out to The Baltimore Banner for a response to Tucker's remarks.

According to the report, the accusers said they ended sessions early or refuse to work with Tucker again because of the allegations. The report also says Tucker was banned from returning to two of those spas, a claim Tucker’s legal team denied. 

Among the allegations leveled in the report, five women claimed the NFL player was erect during sessions with him and that he fully or partially exposed himself, while others made other accusations of egregious acts.  

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the NFL said it learned of the accusations from the reporter investigating the story and that allegations were not previously reported to the league. 

"We take any allegation seriously and will look into the matter," the statement continued. 

The Ravens told Fox News Digital, "We are aware of The Baltimore Banner’s story regarding Justin Tucker. We take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation." 

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Ahead of the Super Bowl, referees are under a lot of scrutiny, with fans and experts debating whether the officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs.

Troy Aikman, an ESPN broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Famer, said the league "owes" it to its fans to address the officiating issues, especially with how much money people have at stake when they gamble and the NFL continuing to promote betting. 

"I know the officials have a tough job. I mean, the scrutiny that they’re under. As we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized," Aikman said during a recent appearance on "SI Media with Jimmy Traina."

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"And the game has not become less controversial. The game has become more controversial," Aikman said. "I just think that we’re at a point that this has tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services.

"Here you are promoting gambling — people are gambling more than they ever have before and those types of calls – there’s a lot at stake regardless. But especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well. 

"I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right, and I think we’re at a point in time where we can. We can get it more right. So, that was really my position in just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address it in the offseason.’"

The conversation about the referees continued after last week’s AFC championship win for the Chiefs.

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s failed fourth down conversion on a QB sneak became a hotly debated topic because some observers questioned whether the Chiefs actually stopped him short of a first down.

Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s reception while battling with Bills safety Cole Bishop for the ball in the first half also had fans skeptical that the referees made the right call because it looked like Bishop had a good hold on the ball. 

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt, took to social media to address the "referee favoritism" ahead of the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is still over a week away, and conversations about the officiating won’t go away anytime soon. 

The Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s Super Bowl coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham may not be done just yet. 

Graham, 36, has been out since Week 12 with a triceps injury and thought his season — and possibly his career — might be over. 

The Eagles opened the practice window for the one-time Pro Bowler Thursday, giving him a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

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"If I had to go out like this, I gave everything I got," Graham told reporters after being injured in November. 

Graham said in training camp the 2024 season would be his last when speaking to reporters. 

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With the Eagles reaching the Super Bowl, it has given Graham enough rest and recovery to open his practice window to give him a chance to play.

Graham has played the most games of any player in Eagles history with 206, 13 more than Jason Kelce, who is second in franchise history with 193. 

Graham has spent his entire 15-year career with the Eagles after being drafted by the team with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Michigan. 

In 11 games this season, Graham had 20 combined tackles and 3½ sacks before getting hurt. 

Graham has 76½ career sacks and was a key part of the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning season in 2017. 

The Eagles are looking to avenge their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two seasons ago and getting Graham would be a boost.

The Eagles take on the Chiefs in the Super Bowl Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

FOX’s coverage of the Super Bowl begins at 1 p.m. ET that day. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Nancy Kerrigan spoke at an emotional news conference on Thursday after six people with ties to the skating club where she competed died in an airline tragedy near Reagan International Airport near Washington, D.C.

Kerrigan is one of the decorated members of the Skating Club of Boston, along with Dick Button, Tenley Albright and Paul Wylie.

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The Olympic silver medalist battled through tears as she spoke to reporters. Albright stood beside Kerrigan.

"Much like everyone here has been saying, I’m not sure how to process it," she said, adding that her husband, who is her agent, kept getting calls to do interviews. "I didn’t feel like it was right to be home and do interviews for this. . . . We just wanted to be here and be a part of our community."

The Skating Club of Boston identified Jinna Han and Spencer Lane as the two athletes who were killed in the crash. Their mothers and two coaches were also identified as victims.

"I’ve never seen anyone love skating as much as these two, and that’s why I think it hurts so much. . . . Anytime I’ve been able to be here and watch them grow, the kids here really work hard. Their parents work hard to be here, but I feel for the athletes, their skaters, their families, anyone who was on that plane, not just the skaters, because it’s just such a tragic event.

LIVE UPDATES: MILITARY HELICOPTER COLLIDES WITH AIRCRAFT NEAR REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT

"We’ve been through tragedies before as Americans as people, and we are strong, and I guess it’s how we respond to it, and my response is to be with the people who I care about because I needed support. So, that’s why I’m here."

Kerrigan hoped the families would find the courage and the strength to take the next steps.

The Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe added that Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, and Jin Han, the mother of Jinna, and Molly Lane, the mother of Spencer, had been identified as the other victims. He announced it in a statement earlier in the day.

"Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said in a statement posted to social media. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six of seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.

"These athletes, coaches, parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the National Development Camp."

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Rory McIlroy's time at the new TGL has paid off early.

Days after competing in his and Tiger Woods' joint simulator league in Jupiter, Fla., McIlroy drilled an ace at Spyglass Golf Course at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday.

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On the par-three 15th, McIlroy took a wedge from 119 yards out and hit a dart right at the hole.

And that's not hyperbole - McIlroy dunked his golf ball right into the hole without a bounce.

It was the second hole-in-one the four-time major champion has hit on tour. His first came in 2023 at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

McIlroy is ranked third in the world, behind Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

It's McIlroy's first event of the new PGA season. He started his first round on the 10th hole, so the ace got him to three-under through six on the day.

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BRYSON DECHAMBEAU USING SAUDI-FUNDED $125M LIV GOLF SALARY TO EXPAND SIZE OF TOWN BY 200 ACRES

It's a nice start to the season for McIlroy, who is hoping for better fortunes this year than last. McIlroy owned the U.S. Open lead late last year with a chance to snap his decade-long major drought. However, after he missed six feet worth of two putts on the final three holes, Bryson DeChambeau stole the trophy from underneath him.

That came just months after Cameron Smith squeaked out a win at the Open Championship the year prior over McIlroy in the final round.

McIlroy has been participating in the aforementioned TGL, which started earlier this week. McIlroy, Woods, Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa are all team captains, with other PGA stars like Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama and Max Homa all playing.

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Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane heard what the league office had to say, but he still believes his quarterback picked up a crucial first down in the AFC Championship.

The Bills were crushed by the Kansas City Chiefs once again in the playoffs, falling just short of a Super Bowl appearance in a 32-29 loss on the road this past Sunday. 

One of the most controversial plays from the game was a fourth-and-inches quarterback sneak by Josh Allen. In real-time, it appeared that he made the gain, but referees called him short, forcing a turnover on downs to the Chiefs. 

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Five plays later, Patrick Mahomes rushed into the end zone for his second rushing score of the game to take a seven-point lead after a two-point conversion.

Other than the controversial spot, the play prior, where Dalton Kincaid appeared to pick up the first down, is just as questionable. And replay shows a Chiefs player was lined up in the neutral zone when Allen took the snap on the sneak attempt, which should’ve been flagged for a first down. 

Beane discussed that particular sequence of events on Thursday. 

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"It’s frustrating," he said, per SI.com. "There’s only so much I can say. We work with the league to try to get clarity. I’ll give them credit. They’ve taken our calls. They’ve sent video and things like that. If you’re talking about like the fourth-down play, I feel like [Allen] got that. I still feel like he got that. I felt that in the moment and nothing has changed my mind on that."

Earlier in the game, a crucial replay review confirmed a catch by Chiefs rookie Xavier Worthy, and it also bothered Beane. Defensive back Cole Bishop went up with Worthy for an interception, and it appeared both of them had their hands around the ball as the tip of the pigskin hit the ground. 

Like the later play, it resulted in a Chiefs touchdown as Mahomes scampered into the end zone.

"The play that we challenged was a good challenge," he explained. "I’m not sure either player had possession on the Bishop-Worthy play when the ball touched the ground."

Some fans have accused referees of favoring the Chiefs during this Super Bowl run, with another controversial call coming in the divisional round against the Houston Texans. 

Will Anderson Jr. was called for a personal foul, a 15-yard penalty, for a hit to the head on Mahomes despite replay showing that wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, the third-and-long that wasn’t converted on an overthrown pass gave the Chiefs more life on their drive. 

Officiating will be a storyline heading into this matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, especially after fans believed their previous Super Bowl meeting two seasons ago ended controversially after James Bradberry was called for holding JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

The penalty set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal to start this streak for the Chiefs. 

Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox and streaming exclusively on Tubi. 

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Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is currently under investigation by federal prosecutors over suspicions of an illegal betting scheme, the NBA confirmed Thursday. 

The investigators are working to determine whether Rozier manipulated his performance in two games in March 2023, allegedly in conspiracy with Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter.

It is part of the same probe that led to the lifetime ban of Porter in July. 

Porter’s ban came after a similar investigation into his performance and "prop bets" – wagers where bettors can choose whether a player will reach a certain statistical standard or not during a game. Last April, the NBA banned Porter for life after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on his team to lose.

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The Porter investigation started once the league learned from "licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets" about unusual gambling patterns surrounding Porter’s performance in a game on March 20, 2024, against Sacramento. 

The league determined that Porter gave a bettor information about his own health status prior to that game and said another individual – known to be an NBA bettor – placed an $80,000 bet that Porter would not hit the numbers set for him in parlays through an online sports book. That bet would have won $1.1 million.

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Authorities believe some of the people who arranged for Porter to fix his performance in two games last season had inside information that prompted them to bet large sums of money against Rozier a year earlier.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the latest investigation, noting that Rozier – who played for the Hornets on the date in question, and now plays for the Miami Heat – has not been charged with a crime, nor has he been accused of wrongdoing.

The NBA said it looked into the matter at the time and did not find that any league rules were broken.

"In March 2023, the NBA was alerted to unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier’s performance in a game between Charlotte and New Orleans," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement, first released to The Wall Street Journal and subsequently released to The Associated Press and other outlets. "The league conducted an investigation and did not find a violation of NBA rules. We are now aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York related to this matter and have been cooperating with that investigation."

The game involving Rozier that is in question was played March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes, 36 seconds of that game – and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period – a productive quarter, but well below his usual total output for a full game.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Miami Heat and Rozier's representatives for comment. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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U.S. ice skater Anton Spiridonov refuted claims suggesting he was on board the commercial jet that collided in midair with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

"Russian news outlets have included me on a list of presumed people on the flight from Wichita to Washington D.C.," the skater shared on Instagram. 

"I was NOT on this flight, thank you for everyone’s concern for my safety. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy." 

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Spiridonov won the silver medal at the World University Games in 2023. He also finished sixth at the U.S. Championships that same year. Spiridonov also paid tribute to his father's former "skating partner," Inna Volyanskaya. 

"Dads skating partner," he wrote on a post to his Instagram story. "Rest in peace, Inna."

LIVE UPDATES: AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE, ARMY HELICOPTER COLLIDE OUTSIDE REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR WASHINGTON DC

Flight 5342 carried 60 passengers and four crew members, according to a statement from American Airlines. The flight took off from an airport in Wichita, Kansas.

Authorities confirmed there were three U.S. service members aboard the Army Black Hawk helicopter when the aircraft departed Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. The airfield is located about 15 miles southwest of Reagan Washington National.

The passenger jet and the military helicopter both crashed into the Potomac River as the commercial plane was approaching one of the airport runways. In a news conference Thursday morning, officials confirmed that 27 bodies from the plane and one from the Black Hawk helicopter had been pulled from the frigid waters.

U.S. Figure Skating released a statement confirming that "several members of our skating community" were aboard the flight. The organization said they were returning home from a development camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, which concluded Sunday.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Members of the figure skating community are presumed to have been killed in the plane crash near Reagan International Airport late Wednesday night.

The crash came hours ahead of the European Figure Skating Championships, which honored the victims in a moment of silence before skaters took the ice.

The legendary broadcast duo of Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir were on the call, and before the skating occurred, they both offered emotional tributes.

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"As we come on the air for the European Figure Skating Championships, we are all hurting today. We were absolutely heartbroken at the news that several members of our skating community were among those lost in the tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., last night," Weir began.

Weir then read off portions of sentimental statements from U.S. Figure Skating and the International Skating Union.

After a moment of silence, presumably to hold back tears, Lipinski offered her condolences.

"It is unimaginable loss. My heart is completely broken for our skating community, their families and loved ones. My heart is with all of the families affected, and that’s the part I have no words for. It will not do it justice. It is so widespread throughout our skating community. We are such a close-knit family, and I know our skating community will never be the same. But we will always remember them," Lipinski said.

Weir added, "Our job is to make sure that everyone’s spirit lives on. It’s a tremendous loss that our community feels, and the sorrow that we feel for our tightknit community and the pain that we feel for our friends and colleagues is unimaginable today. My whole heart is with everybody affected by this terrible tragedy – we are so devastated for your loss."

First responders switched to recovery efforts in the Potomac River after it was believed that there were no survivors. There were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight and three soldiers aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

Two former Olympians, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were also believed to be among the victims of the plane crash, the Kremlin confirmed. 

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Former NFL star quarterback Cam Newton knows his take isn’t popular, but said it anyway. 

Stephen A. Smith asked Newton if he would trade his 2015 NFL MVP award for a Super Bowl win during ESPN’s "First Take" on Thursday.

"No," Newton promptly responded.

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"Really? Wow," Smith said, surprised by Newton’s response. 

Newton posed a question to help explain his unexpected answer.

"Because you have to ask it through this lens. That was a very journalistic viewpoint/vantage point, response Stephen A. I’ll ask you this question, and just to pose this thought: what’s more important, impact or championships?" Newton said. 

"You look at a guy like Allen Iverson, ‘You stood up on the table and rararara,’ everybody is not going to be Michael Jordan, everybody is not going to be Patrick Mahomes, everybody is not going to be those individuals who have the luxury of saying, ‘Hey, I not only dominated this sport, but I also have championships to back it.’"

Newton won the MVP award in 2015 when he led the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 regular season record and went all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to the Denver Broncos 24-10.

To further support his argument, Newton then began to cite quarterbacks who weren’t MVP-caliber players but won the Super Bowl.

"Like, let me remind you, Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl, Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl, respectfully, Nick Foles won a Super Bowl. So, yes, when you look at those guys, and you say what’s more important, would you have preferred to win a Super Bowl?" Newton said. 

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"I think that that’s the humble approach, but if we’re being honest, the impact of you holding yourself accountable is to say everybody has a responsibility to do. And you can say as an MVP award winner or an All-American, you’ve held yourself or you’ve held your end of the bargain down."

For Newton, he said he would prefer the MVP award to the Super Bowl because it told him that he did his job. 

"And that’s what it really comes down to for me, I know that’s not the popular pick, I’m not trying to be popularized. But my take is, I’m taking individual success because I did my job. Football is not about one guy trying to do 11 jobs, it’s 11 guys doing one job and if everybody does their job best, famous words of our coach Belichick: ‘Just do your job.’"

If the Panthers had won Super Bowl L against the Broncos, Newton would have joined an exclusive list of quarterbacks to win both the MVP and the Super Bowl in the same season. 

For Newton, he would prefer to keep the MVP instead of winning the Super Bowl.

Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are playing in Super Bowl LIX, but neither of them is up for the MVP award this season. 

In 2022, however, Mahomes won the MVP and the Super Bowl, while Hurts was the runner-up in the MVP race and lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs. 

The Chiefs will take on the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9 on FOX.

FOX’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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Two-time U.S. Olympian Tonya Harding joined many others in the figure skating community to speak out after it was revealed that several members of U.S. Figure Skating were among the victims feared dead following an American Airlines collision with an Army helicopter late Wednesday night. 

Harding, who had joined X just a day earlier, posted a message in response to the "devastating" news that 67 people on board American Airlines Flight 5342 and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter were killed during a collision near Reagan Washington National Airport, near D.C., at around 9 p.m. local time. 

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"The events that took place last night in Washington, DC are absolutely devastating," Harding’s post read.  

"I'm being told that several professional figure skaters were aboard the flight as well. Sending my love and prayers to all the victims and their families." 

First responders recovered at least 28 bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River on Thursday. Officials said there were 64 people on board the commercial flight, including four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.  

FIGURE SKATING COMMUNITY MOURNS VICTIMS OF DEADLY PLANE CRASH COLLISION: ‘AT A LOSS FOR WORDS’ 

"We don’t believe there are any survivors," John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital said. "We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation."

U.S. Figure Skating released a statement confirming that "several members of our skating community" were aboard the flight. The organization said they were returning home from a development camp being held after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, which concluded on Sunday. 

Harding’s post comes a day after she joined the popular social media platform, a move that was met by some controversy. Harding’s career was notably marred by her connection to the 1994 attack on her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, which was plotted by Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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American figure skater Jon Maravilla set the record straight on a story that went viral amid the airline disaster that occurred near Reagan International Airport on Wednesday night.

Maravilla told The Daily Beast in an interview on Thursday he was denied from his flight because of his dog but he was set to fly out of Detroit and not Wichita, Kansas, where the doomed flight originated from. Media reports from Russia originally claimed he was supposed to be on the plane, pointing to Instagram posts from his personal account.

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He told the outlet it was unclear where the reports came from but he was heartbroken over the fate of some of his friends.

"I still can’t believe it," he told the outlet. "I was just with them watching them have lots of fun and just enjoying their time."

He added that he was in a parking lot when he started to learn the flight that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter had originated from Wichita.

Officials said Thursday there were no survivors of the crash and that the mission went from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. Nearly 30 bodies were pulled from the Potomac River.

LIVE UPDATES: MILITARY HELICOPTER COLLIDES WITH AIRCRAFT NEAR REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT

At least six of those who died in the crash had ties to the Skating Club of Boston.

The Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe identified those with ties to the club as athletes, Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, two coaches, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, and Jin Han, the mother of Jinna, and Molly Lane, the mother of Spencer, were identified as the victims with ties to the skate club.

"Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said in a statement posted to social media. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 of 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.

"These athletes, coaches, parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the National Development Camp."

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Members of the figure skating community have spoken out after an American Airlines flight tragically collided with an Army helicopter late Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., leaving all 67 on board both aircraft presumably dead. 

U.S. Figure Skating released a statement confirming that "several members of our skating community" were aboard the flight. The organization said they were returning home from a development camp being held after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, which concluded on Sunday. 

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available." 

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Wichita Mayor Lily Wu did not confirm how many members of U.S. Figure Skating were on board Flight 5342 during a press conference on Thursday morning. 

"It was truly an honor to have future Olympians and those who are at the highest competition level of figure skating, right here in our capital," she said. 

"We were so excited to have the opportunity to host the national championship, and even yesterday I had folks tell me how wonderful these last few days have been with additional individuals that came into our community, whether to watch or to participate. So our community was really excited and thankful that everything went well with the championship. And so right now we're just waiting for more information from U.S. Figure Skating that we can release. But right now we're just hoping and praying again." 

First responders switched to recovery efforts in the Potomac River after it was believed that there were no survivors. There were 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the flight and three soldiers aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER SAYS HE WAS BARRED FROM FLIGHT THAT COLLIDED WITH ARMY HELICOPTER

"This is heartbreaking," Team USA figure skater Josphine Lee wrote in a post to her Instagram Stories. "My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone on the flight, including the skaters, coaches, and parents." 

Team USA pair skater Luke Wang shared a similar sentiment in a post on X. 

"Praying for all those on the flight from wichita to dc. Among the passengers were skaters and coaches. Absolutely heartbreaking."

Several other Team U.S. figure skaters also took to social media.                     

"Words cannot fathom the fear and sadness I feel from this event," reigning pairs U.S. junior champion Hana Maria Aboian said early Thursday morning. "It is absolutely terrible and I pray for all the athletes, coaches, and everyone onboard to be safe and healthy."

"I am at a loss for words... I can't even explain how devastated I feel for the loss of amazing people that were on this flight. I'm sending prayers to their families and the figure skating community," Starr Andrews said. 

The International Skating Union also released a statement. 

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport—it’s a close-knit family—and we stand together. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time," the statement read in part. 

Two former Olympians, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were also believed to be among the victims of the plane crash, the Kremlin confirmed. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The American figure skating community suffered severe losses on Wednesday night as six people with ties to the Skating Club of Boston were on board a passenger plane when it collided with a U.S. Army helicopter.

Officials said Thursday there were no survivors of the crash and that the mission went from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. Nearly 30 bodies were pulled from the Potomac River.

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The Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe identified those with ties to the club as athletes, Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, two coaches, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, and Jin Han, the mother of Jinna, and Molly Lane, the mother of Spencer, were identified as the victims with ties to the skate club.

"Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said in a statement posted to social media. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 of 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.

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"These athletes, coaches, parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the National Development Camp."

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, confirmed earlier Thursday that Naumov and Shishkova were among those on board the plane.

Naumov and Shishkova competed in pairs during their careers. They won a pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice.

U.S. Figure Skating said there were members of its organization on board as well.

"U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.," the organization said earlier Thursday. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."

The International Skating Union said it was "deeply shocked" over the incident.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together," the organization said.

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WWE superstar Asuka, the four-time world champion, said she has recently felt in danger and has contacted the police regarding fan interactions that have had "romantic" advances involved. 

Asuka, whose real name is Kanako Urai, is a Japanese professional wrestler who sent out multiple posts on her X account Wednesday, when she expressed her feelings about recent fan interactions that had been taken too far in her eyes. 

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"I’ve been feeling in danger recently," she wrote on X. "I’ve already consulted the police. At this rate, even if fans approach me at the airport or in the city, I will feel the possibility that something might happen, and it will scare me, making me unable to respond."

While Asuka did not talk about a specific interaction she had with fans, she did express her want for fans to stop having "romantic feelings for me."

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"It’s meaningless – 100% pointless," she wrote in a separate post. 

"There is absolutely no possibility for others to interfere in my private life."

It is worth noting this is not the first time a WWE star has dealt with fans who take their love for the sport and brand too far. 

Fellow star Sonya Deville had an obsessed fan of hers drive from his home in South Carolina to Tampa Bay, Florida, where she lived, with the intent of abducting her. The man, Phillip Thomas, carried a knife, zip ties, duct tape and mace, and broke into her home. 

A plea deal was ultimately struck for 15 years in prison in 2023 after the incident in 2020, when Thomas was charged with attempted kidnapping, aggravated stalking and armed burglary. 

Asuka, 43, has not been wrestling of late, as she suffered an injury in May 2024, which required knee surgery. 

Asuka is the longest-reigning NXT women’s champion, and she’s also won the Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank in her career, which began in 2015. 

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An American figure skater’s social media post sparked concern about his whereabouts as it appeared he was on the plane that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter on Wednesday night.

Spencer Lane posted a photo on his Instagram while the American Airlines flight was on the runway at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. The plane appeared to be waiting to take off for Reagan International Airport near Washington, D.C.

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"ICT (to) DCA," the post on his Instagram Stories read.

Lane did not post anything else after that. Another post on his Instagram Stories showed him warming up with Kohaku Murai. He had also shared a collage of pictures with other team members who were in Wichita, Kansas.

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Later Thursday, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe named Lane as one of those who were lost in the crash.

"Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said in a statement posted to social media. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 of 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.

"These athletes, coaches, parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the National Development Camp."

U.S. Figure Skating said earlier Thursday that athletes, coaches and family members involved with its organization were on board the flight.

"U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.," the organization said. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."

Officials said Thursday they didn’t think there were any survivors.

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An American figure skater was barred from the American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan International Airport on Thursday night.

Jon Maravilla told Russia’s Sputnik he was not allowed on the flight because his dog was too big to board. He said he ultimately decided to make the 14-hour drive back from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C. He also mentioned the issue on his personal Instagram account.

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"Not allowed past gate to board flight," he wrote in one post. "Get me tf out of Kansas please."

He added, "14 hour journey begins."

Maravilla told RIA Novosti that there were "about 14 figure skaters on the plane, not counting their parents and coaches," according to The New York Times.

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"Such a tragedy," he added.

At least 60 people were aboard the American Airlines flight.

U.S. Figure Skating did not confirm the number of members of its organization on the plane.

"U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.," the organization said. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."

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Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were a Russian figure skating pair who competed in multiple Olympic Games and medaled in multiple world championships.

The Kremlin said Thursday the figure skating stars were among those aboard an American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan International Airport on Wednesday night.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Shishkova and Naumov were on the plane.

"Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash," he said.

It was Naumov’s coach who introduced the pair in 1985, wanting them to work together despite Naumov rebuffing the idea at first. They began to work together in 1987 and competed and won bronze in the 1991 European Championships while representing the former Soviet Union. The pair would go on to win two more bronze and silver medals in the event.

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Later Thursday, Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe identified the couple as those who were lost in the crash.

"Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy," Zeghibe said in a statement posted to social media. "Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 of 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.

"These athletes, coaches, parents were returning from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp, following last week’s U.S. Championships in Wichita. This camp is for young competitive skaters of tomorrow with the promise to be a champion of tomorrow. The club sent 18 athletes to compete at the U.S. Championships. It sent 12 athletes to the National Development Camp."

Shishkova and Naumov earned accolades on the world stage as well. At the 1993 World Championships, the two earned a bronze medal. The following year in Chiba, Japan, the two picked up their first gold medal. They finished with a silver in 1995 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

The pair competed in the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. They finished in fifth in 1992 and fourth in 1994.

Shishkova and Naumov married in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1995, and they moved to Connecticut. They had a son, Maxim, who competed in men’s singles in the U.S.

The Russian pair were listed as professional pairs coaches on the Skating Club of Boston’s website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Prior to the Philadelphia Eagles' 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship, the famous Rocky statue in downtown Philadelphia was wearing Commanders gear.

Actually, the statue was dressed in Redskins garb, the Commanders' former identity.

But Travis Kelce isn’t buying into the fact that the opposing team’s fans are the ones dressing up the "Rocky" statue.

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"I’m fully aware of the fact that it happens every single meaningful game, I don’t think it’s the other team doing it at this point," Kelce said during a recent episode of "New Heights."

Jason Kelce, former Eagles star center and avid supporter of the team, proposed who might be dressing up the statue.

"You think the Eagles are doing it?" Jason asked.

"100%," Travis responded. 

The Rocky statue has been dressed numerous times in opposing team’s colors, with each occasion normally leading an Eagles victory. 

When the Eagles won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots, someone put a Tom Brady jersey on the statue.

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During the Eagles run to the Super Bowl in 2023, Rocky was dressed in both New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers gear before the Eagles dismantled both teams en route to the big game. 

Jason then referenced a Kansas City Chiefs shirt on Rocky ahead of the Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl matchup in 2023, but Travis expressed skepticism that a Chiefs fan was the culprit.

"Yeah that was Chiefs gear," Travis said doubtfully, "It was like a red shirt that said Chiefs on it."

"They like wrote Chiefs in Sharpie or something. It’s got to be Philly, it’s got to be Eagles fans."

EAGLES FAN, 18, DIES AFTER FALL FROM LIGHT POLE DURING CELEBRATION

Jason supported Travis's theory, saying that it’s "a conspiracy I can get behind."

Travis thinks the motivation for dressing Rocky up in the opposing team’s gear is to get Eagles fans riled up.

"They’re just firing up the entire city, getting it nice and rowdy," Kelce said. 

Rocky has not yet been dressed in Chiefs gear, but there is still plenty of time before kickoff in the Super Bowl. 

Kelce’s Chiefs will take on the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 9 on FOX.

FOX’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX will begin at 1 p.m. ET. Coverage can also be streamed live on Tubi for the first time ever.

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U.S. and Russian figure skaters were on board an American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.

U.S. Figure Skating said athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from a camp held in Wichita, Kansas.

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"U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.," the organization said. "These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available."

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Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won a pairs title at the 1994 world championships and competed at the Winter Olympics twice, were on board the plane as well, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, we see that this sad information is being confirmed. There were other fellow citizens there. Bad news today from Washington. We are sorry and send condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in the plane crash," he said.

The International Skating Union said it was "deeply shocked" over the incident.

"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together," the organization said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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