A flight attendant on an Air Canada Jazz flight that collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia airport on Sunday survived after being thrown more than 100 metres from the aircraft during the impact.
Solange Tremblay was found still strapped to her seat after the crash, her daughter said, while her family described her survival as “a complete miracle,” Quebec's TVA news reported.
The CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, crashed into a vehicle while landing on Sunday. The accident killed both pilots and left several others injured. Nine people were taken to hospital, including Tremblay, who suffered multiple fractures.
Tremblay had been working as a flight attendant for 26 years. One of the pilots who died was identified as Antoine Forest, 30, from Quebec. The second pilot was Mackenzie Gunther, according to reports.
The Air Line Pilots Association confirmed the deaths, calling the loss of the crew members a profound tragedy and expressing condolences to their families and colleagues.
Audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there may have been confusion shortly before the crash. In one transmission, a controller is heard clearing a vehicle to cross part of the runway before urgently trying to stop it. “Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” the controller said as the situation unfolded.
In another recording after the crash, a controller is heard saying the impact “wasn’t good to watch,” while another responded, “I tried to reach out… we were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.” The reply came, “Nah, man, you did the best you could.”
