Two Canadian pilots died Sunday night when their Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport, prompting investigations by both Canadian and American transportation safety authorities.
The victims were identified as Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and Mackenzie Gunther of Peterborough, Ontario, according to sources close to the airline. Both pilots were pronounced dead at the scene following the devastating impact.
The CRJ 900 regional jet, operated by Air Canada contractor Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members on a flight from Montreal when it struck the fire truck at approximately 167 kilometres per hour during landing approach.
Emergency Response and Casualties
Thirty-nine passengers and crew members, along with two firefighters from the struck emergency vehicle, were transported to hospital following the collision. Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia reported that 32 of the 41 injured individuals had been released from hospital by Monday, while nine remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
The fire truck was responding to a separate emergency incident when it was cleared by air traffic control to cross the runway, according to preliminary reports from the investigation.
Air Canada passenger Jack Cabot described the terrifying moments during impact: "We just had an absolute slam and everyone was flying everywhere and the plane started veering off left and right. It was chaos."
Investigation Underway
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with assistance from Canada's Transportation Safety Board. Investigators are examining why the emergency vehicle received clearance to cross the runway in the path of the landing aircraft.
Control tower radio transmissions revealed the dramatic moments leading up to the collision. The fire truck requested permission to cross Runway 4, which was initially granted. However, the controller quickly attempted to halt the vehicle, repeatedly saying "Stop there, please. Stop stop Truck One Stop stop stop stop."
Following the crash, one air traffic controller could be heard saying: "I messed up," to which a colleague replied, "No, man, you did the best you could."
Aircraft Details and Severe Damage
The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ 900 built in 2006. The impact was so severe it severed the cockpit from the main fuselage. One flight attendant, Solange Tremblay, survived being thrown from the aircraft while still secured to her seat but suffered multiple leg fractures requiring surgery, according to her daughter Sarah Lépine.
LaGuardia Airport was closed following the collision but reopened Monday afternoon, allowing operations to resume.
The tragedy marks a significant aviation incident involving Canadian crew members and highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding runway operations at busy international airports.
Information for this story was compiled from reports by the Globe and Mail. The original article can be found at theglobeandmail.com.
