Air Canada flight AC8646 struck a fire truck while attempting to land at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday. The fire truck was crossing the runway to address an odor issue on another plane, according to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia. Passenger Rebecca Liquori described a loud "boom" moments after touchdown, with the plane jolting and passengers screaming as it braked.
Two pilots died in the crash, including Québec native Antoine Forest, as reported in Canadian media. FAA administrator Bran Bedford called the incident "an absolute tragedy" for the young men at the start of their careers.
Passenger Leo Medina, on another plane nearby, witnessed the aircraft "like the plane got cut in half" and waited more than 12 hours in the airport. Rebecca Liquori recounted helping others slide down a wing to escape, saying, "I'm just happy to be alive." Jack Cabot described scenes of passengers hunkered down and yelling after the sudden impact during what he called a regular landing.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy visited the site and stressed that seat belts saved lives in the collision. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani labeled it a "tragic collision" and praised first responders for their swift actions that prevented more deaths. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney called the event "deeply saddening," while US President Donald Trump described it as "terrible."
The National Transportation Safety Board began probing the crash, with air traffic control audio capturing a staff member yelling, "Truck One, stop, stop, stop!" just before impact. LaGuardia closed until 1400 Monday, leading to hundreds of delayed or canceled flights and stranding passengers like Katie Rojas, whose departing flight sat on the tarmac. According to CBS News, a flight attendant was found alive outside the plane, strapped in her seat after falling through a hole in the floor, with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Two individuals in the fire engine also required hospital treatment, highlighting risks for emergency crews on runways.
Air Canada flight AC8646 struck a fire truck while attempting to land at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday. The fire truck was crossing the runway to address an odor issue on a United Airlines flight, according to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia. Passenger Rebecca Liquori described a loud "boom" moments after touchdown, with the plane jolting and passengers screaming as it braked.
Two pilots died in the crash, including Québec native Antoine Forest, as reported in Canadian media. FAA administrator Bran Bedford called the incident "an absolute tragedy" for the young men at the start of their careers. Forty-one people sustained injuries, with some taken to hospital for serious wounds, though many of those admitted have since been released.
Passenger Leo Medina, on another plane nearby, witnessed the aircraft "like the plane got cut in half" and waited more than 12 hours in the airport. Rebecca Liquori recounted helping others slide down a wing to escape, saying, "I'm just happy to be alive." Jack Cabot described scenes of passengers hunkered down and yelling after the sudden impact during what he called a regular landing.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy visited the site and stressed that seat belts saved lives in the collision. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani labeled it a "tragic collision" and praised first responders for their swift actions that prevented more deaths. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney called the event "deeply saddening," while US President Donald Trump described it as "terrible."
The National Transportation Safety Board began probing the crash, with air traffic control audio capturing a staff member yelling, "Truck One, stop, stop, stop!" just before impact. LaGuardia closed until 1400 Monday, leading to hundreds of delayed or canceled flights and stranding passengers like Katie Rojas, whose departing flight sat on the tarmac. A flight attendant was found alive outside the plane, strapped in her seat after falling through a hole in the floor, with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash involved a plane carrying about 76 people, as noted by Sean Duffy during his remarks at the airport. Two individuals in the fire engine also required hospital treatment, highlighting risks for emergency crews on runways. This event underscores ongoing challenges at US airports, including the shutdown affecting Transport Security Administration staff, where one agent at LaGuardia mentioned working without pay amid colleague absences.
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The sources also report that officials stated this was the first fatal incident at LaGuardia in more than 34 years.