Jon Maravilla, Skater Who Was in Kansas with Team, Says He Missed Flight Because of His Dog, but Not the Doomed D.C.-Bound Plane

Jon Maravilla said he was not able to board a Delta Airlines flight from Wichita to Atlanta because of the size of his dog

Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Jon Maravilla competing in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Sept. 6, 2024

Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty

Jon Maravilla competing in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Sept. 6, 2024

A U.S. figure skater who was in Kansas with his teammates said he was not allowed to board a plane because of his dog, but not the American Airlines flight that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C.

Speaking with The Daily Beast, Jon Maravilla said he was denied entry to board a Delta Airlines flight from Wichita to Atlanta before connecting on a second flight to Detroit on Wednesday, Jan. 29, because of the size of his dog.

He then reportedly posted on his Instagram Stories about the incident from inside the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport with the caption: “Not allowed past gate to board flight. Get me out of Kansas, please.”

Related: Mayor Lily Wu Says Wichita Was 'Honored' to Receive Direct Flight Route to D.C. Last Year, Cities Will Be 'Forever' Linked

ADVERTISEMENT

The update contradicts the reporting from Russian news agency RIA Novosti that Maravilla was scheduled to be on the doomed flight to D.C.

Maravilla told the outlet that he did not know where that news came from and said he "still can't believe" what happened to his friends.

"I was just with them watching them have lots of fun and just enjoying their time," he added.

Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla competing in Gdansk, Poland, on Sept. 27, 2024

Jurij Kodrun - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty

Saya Carpenter and Jon Maravilla competing in Gdansk, Poland, on Sept. 27, 2024

Related: Man Shares Heartbreaking Final Text He Received from Wife Before American Airlines Plane Crashed into Potomac River

Fourteen U.S. figure skaters, including six members of The Skating Club of Boston, were among the 64 people killed onboard the American Airlines plane, CEO Doug Zeghibe announced at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

The victims from The Skating Club of Boston have been identified as two teens, Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, their mothers, Molly Lane and Jin Han, and two coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former Russian world champions.

Andrew Harnik/Getty  Emergency response in the Potomac River following the plane crash (Jan. 30, 2025)

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Emergency response in the Potomac River following the plane crash (Jan. 30, 2025)

Related: Air Traffic Controller Asked Black Hawk Helicopter If It Had American Airlines Jet 'in Sight' Seconds Before Crash: Report

ADVERTISEMENT

In a statement provided to PEOPLE, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that members from their community were on 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 Jan. 30 statement read.

“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," the group added.

"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 statement concluded.

[Editor's Note: This story has been updated. U.S. figure skater Jon Maravilla says he was denied entry on a Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta, not the American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter in D.C. on Wednesday. This has been corrected in the current text.]

Read the original article on People