‘Like the plane got cut in half’: LaGuardia crash that killed two pilots now under investigation
LaGuardia Crash That Killed Two Pilots Now Under Investigation
The crash of Air Canada flight AC8646 into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport left passengers and onlookers in shock, with two pilots tragically losing their lives and dozens more injured. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with the aircraft seemingly split apart upon impact. Leo Medina, a 23-year-old passenger on another plane at the tarmac, recounted the moment: “We were literally like 100 metres away. It was like the plane got cut in half.” He added that he had to return to the gate and spent over 12 hours waiting in the airport, sleeping on the floor surrounded by jackets.
Impact and Immediate Aftermath
The incident, occurring at 23:40 local time on Sunday (03:40 GMT on Monday), injured 41 individuals, some with severe injuries, and forced LaGuardia Airport to close through Monday morning. US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of seat belts during a press briefing, stating,
“As you see from last night, they do save lives.”
Meanwhile, FAA administrator Bran Bedford highlighted the tragedy of the two young pilots, who were at the beginning of their careers, saying,
“These were two young men at the start of their career, so it’s an absolute tragedy.”
Passenger Accounts and Crash Details
Rebecca Liquori, a passenger traveling from Montreal, described the crash as a sudden “loud boom” after landing. “We were descending when we hit a lot of turbulence,” she explained. “Then we landed very roughly… Everyone felt it. It was like the plane jolted and you heard the pilot try to brake trying to prevent the collision.” She noted that the noise from the brakes was followed by the impact, causing passengers to be thrown from their seats. Audio from the air traffic control tower captured a staff member shouting,
“Truck One, stop, stop, stop!”
just before the crash.
The fire truck had been dispatched minutes earlier to another plane that reported an issue with an unusual odour, according to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia. Liquori mentioned that passengers helped each other slide down a wing to escape. “I’m just happy to be alive,” she said. “I would have never pictured a one-hour flight I’ve done countless times… ending like this.”
Broader Context and Response
CBS News reported that a flight attendant was found alive, still strapped into her seat but outside the aircraft after a floor hole opened during the crash. She sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event a “tragic collision,” praising first responders for their swift actions. He reassured the public that the NTSB is investigating and vowed to continue until the inquiry concludes.
Passenger Jack Cabot, also on the crashed plane, described scenes of confusion and panic. “We went down for a regular landing,” he said. “We immediately hit something and it was just chaos from there… Everybody was hunkered down and everybody was screaming.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sorrow over the crash, while US President Donald Trump called it “terrible,” noting it as “a dangerous business.” LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the US, remained closed until 14:00 on Monday, disrupting hundreds of flights. Officials stated that it had been more than 34 years since a fatality occurred at the airport. The event adds to a period of challenges in air travel, including ongoing TSA staffing shortages due to a prolonged government shutdown.
