Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight that collided with a fire engine at New York's LaGuardia Airport have paid heartfelt tributes to the pilots, describing their "incredible reflexes" as lifesaving. The praise emerged as details surfaced about a flight attendant who miraculously survived after being ejected 300 feet from the aircraft while still strapped into her seat.
Pilots' Final Actions Prevent Greater Tragedy
Those on board the jet insist that Captain Antoine Forest, 30, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther's decisive actions during the late-night landing in heavy rain prevented a far more catastrophic loss of life. The two airmen tragically perished in the crash, which occurred when the aircraft struck the emergency vehicle on the runway. Forty-one other individuals were transported to hospitals with various injuries.
Survivors Express Eternal Gratitude
Survivors recounted the crew's final moments, marked by swift and courageous decision-making. Rebecca Liquori, a passenger, stated she is "forever indebted" to the pilots, emphasizing, "I feel like the pilots saved our lives. They're the reasons I was able to make it home safe to see my boys, and my heart goes out to their families."
French passenger Clément Lelièvre described a sudden and forceful braking manoeuvre as the aircraft touched down shortly before midnight. He reflected, "I don't know the circumstances, but I think he kind of saved our lives because he must have had incredible reflexes."
Investigation Unfolds into Runway Collision
Investigators are now meticulously working to establish how the disaster unfolded at one of the world's busiest airports. Surveillance footage reveals the Bombardier CRJ-900 landing as a fire engine crossed the runway directly into its path. The aircraft, travelling at approximately 150 miles per hour, struck the vehicle, sending it spinning across the tarmac.
Air Traffic Control Audio Captures Desperate Warnings
Air traffic control audio captured the final seconds before impact, with frantic warnings issued to the truck. A controller is heard shouting, "Truck One, stop, stop, stop." Moments later, the same controller addressed the stricken aircraft, "JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can't move. Vehicles are responding to you now."
The fire engine had been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate incident involving another aircraft reporting an "odour" that left the crew feeling unwell. As it moved across the runway, controllers realised too late that it was on a collision course with the incoming jet.
Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
In the aftermath, a nearby pilot described the horror of witnessing the crash, stating, "We got stuff in progress for that man, that wasn't good to watch." The controller responded, "Yeah, I tried to reach out to them. We were dealing with an emergency, and I messed up," before being reassured, "No, you did the best you could."
There were 72 passengers and four crew members on board. Aviation experts noted the outcome could have been far more devastating if the impact had involved the aircraft's fuel stores.
Images Show Extensive Damage and Injuries
Images from the scene displayed the fire engine destroyed and the aircraft's nose torn away. Among the injured were two firefighters in the truck, Sergeant Michael Orsillo and Officer Adrian Baez. Both are expected to survive, with Baez discharged from hospital on Monday.
Flight attendant Solange Tremblay, who was ejected 300 feet through the front of the aircraft while strapped into her seat, is also anticipated to make a full recovery.
Airport Operations and Ongoing Investigation
LaGuardia Airport was closed for several hours following the crash and reopened on Monday at reduced capacity as debris remained on the runway. America's National Transportation Safety Board has initiated a comprehensive investigation. Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy confirmed that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and transported to Washington for analysis.
"We have to look at records," she explained. "There are sign-in sheets. We have to do interviews. We have to look at time cards. That is information we always have to corroborate."
Scrutiny on Control Tower Staffing
Investigators will also examine staffing levels in the control tower following reports that a single controller may have been handling multiple roles at the time. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has denied that only one controller was on duty.
Tributes Pour in for Fallen Pilots
As the inquiry continues, tributes have flooded in for the two pilots. Federal Aviation Administrator Brian Bedford remarked, "These were two young men at the start of their careers. It's an absolute tragedy that we're sitting here with their loss."
Forest, from Quebec, had dreamed of flying from a young age. His great-aunt shared, "He was always taking courses and flying. He never stopped." Friends described him as passionate about aviation, calling it "one of the last true adventurers' professions."
Gunther, who graduated in 2023, had only recently embarked on his career. His former college stated he "will be deeply missed."
