The report claimed the American figure skater was banned from boarding the flight because his dog was too large to fit in a carrier, prompting him to make the drive instead.

Image via Shutterstock Often in tragedies, we're left with close calls and what-ifs. Take for instance the fact Waylon Jennings avoid dying in the American Pie plane crash by giving his seat to Buddy Holly.

U.S. figure skater Jon Maravilla was reportedly not due to travel on the commercial airplane that collided with an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C.