What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash
What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash
Two pilots lost their lives in the collision between a passenger jet and a Port Authority fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. Authorities have not yet officially announced their names, though Canadian news outlets and a university one of them attended have confirmed the identities of Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. Both were aboard the Canada Air Express aircraft, which crashed into the fire truck during its landing approach.
Investigation underway
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are conducting a thorough inquiry into the incident. Their focus is on understanding how the fire truck managed to cross the jet’s path shortly after it landed. Preliminary findings from the cockpit voice recorder, shared at a Tuesday afternoon news conference, indicate that the truck was cleared to enter the runway 20 seconds before the crash.
“The firetruck was given the green light to cross the runway 20 seconds prior to the impact,” said Doug Brazy, NTSB’s senior aviation investigator.
According to Brazy, the flight crew reported to the tower at 2 minutes and 22 seconds, confirming the plane was in a stable approach 54 seconds before the crash. At 2 minutes and 17 seconds, the tower allowed the aircraft to land on Runway 4. However, a radio transmission from an airport vehicle at 1 minute and 3 seconds was “stepped on” by another signal, causing potential interference.
Controller responsibilities
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy highlighted the roles of the two controllers present in the tower cabin at the time: a local controller managing active runways and airspace, and the controller in charge overseeing all safety operations. The latter also handled clearance delivery duties, which provide pilots with departure instructions.
Homendy noted that conflicting reports exist regarding who was responsible for managing ground movement. Some suggest it was the controller in charge, while others point to the local controller. She emphasized that having two controllers during the midnight shift is standard practice, though fatigue concerns have been raised in past investigations.
Passenger accounts
Jack Cabot, a 22-year-old passenger on the Canada Air flight, described the chaos as the plane neared the crash. “From my seat in the 18th row, I could feel the pilots trying to slow the plane just before the collision,” he told NBC News. The impact left him with a cheek bruise and a sore neck after his head struck the seat in front.
Despite the crash, the pilots’ quick response helped prevent a more severe outcome. The incident resulted in 72 passengers and two crew members being injured, with over 40 receiving treatment for minor injuries. Most were soon released, but several remain hospitalized with serious wounds.
