Air Canada flight AC8646's collision with a fire truck on a LaGuardia Airport runway late on Sunday killed the plane's two pilots, injured dozens of others, and left passengers and witnesses stunned and stranded.
23-year-old Leo Medina, who was onboard another plane on the tarmac, described the moment: We were literally like 100 meters away. It was like the plane got cut in half. His flight returned to the gate after the incident, leaving him stranded at the airport for over 12 hours.
In addition to the pilot fatalities, the collision occurred at 23:40 local time on Sunday, injuring 41 people who were taken to the hospital, some with serious injuries. LaGuardia remained closed until Monday afternoon as officials assessed the situation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of seat belts following the tragic event. As you see from last night, they do save lives, he stated, underlining safety in transportation.
One of the deceased pilots, Antoine Forest, was identified as a 30-year-old from Québec. The other pilot's name has yet to be released.
Witness Rebecca Liquori recalled the loud boom just after landing from Montreal, followed by panic among passengers, who helped each other exit the aircraft amidst chaos.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it a tragic collision and confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a thorough investigation, which commenced shortly after the crash.
With the ongoing investigation highlighting the procedural breakdown, the local TSA has been strained due to staffing shortages, further complicating airport operations.
