NEW YORK, newly reported details are shedding light on the severity of the fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, including accounts of a flight attendant being ejected from the aircraft during the impact.
According to multiple sources familiar with the scene, one flight attendant aboard the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 was found outside the aircraft following the crash while still secured in her jumpseat, after the aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada had arrived from Montreal carrying 72 passengers and four crew members.
The CRJ-900 typically operates with two flight attendants, one positioned at the front and one at the rear, and preliminary observations indicate that the forward section of the aircraft sustained catastrophic damage when it collided with a rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway.
Authorities confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the impact, which reportedly sheared off the nose of the aircraft, and investigators believe the violent deceleration and structural damage may have led to the forward flight attendant being ejected while still strapped into her seat.
The second flight attendant, positioned toward the rear of the aircraft, is believed to have remained onboard and assisted passengers in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
Air traffic control audio revealed the chaotic moments leading up to the collision, with controllers urgently attempting to halt the emergency vehicle and repeatedly issuing commands to stop as both the aircraft and the truck entered the same runway path, after the vehicle had reportedly been cleared to cross while responding to a separate in-flight emergency involving another aircraft.
Following the collision, emergency crews responded quickly, evaluating dozens of passengers and crew members and transporting multiple individuals to nearby hospitals for treatment, while several remained hospitalized and injuries were also reported among first responders.
In the aftermath, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground stop at the airport as authorities secured the scene and launched a full investigation, while Jazz Aviation President Doug Clarke expressed condolences to the families of the deceased pilots and support for those injured, reaffirming cooperation with investigators.
The incident has raised concerns regarding runway safety procedures, coordination during emergency responses, and the operational pressures faced by air traffic controllers, with the investigation ongoing as federal authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events and contributing factors behind the collision.
