Passengers on an Air Canada flight that crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York have shared their harrowing experiences, describing the chaotic moments when the plane lost control on the runway. Two pilots tragically lost their lives, but passengers believe the pilots may have saved many lives by their actions during the crash.
The Crash and Passenger Reactions
The flight had just landed from Montreal at 11:40 p.m. on Sunday when the incident occurred. Jack Cabot, a passenger on the plane, described the landing as “regular” at first, but then things quickly took a frightening turn.
“We came down really hard. We stopped really quickly, and two seconds later, we had an absolute slam,” Cabot recalled. The crash caused significant damage to the front of the plane.
Chaos and Panic During the Crash
Passenger Cabot described the moments after the crash as “chaos.” The plane was veering “left and right,” and it felt as though there was no one in control.
“Everybody was flying everywhere,” he added. “It didn’t feel like there was anybody controlling it.”
Pilots’ Last-Minute Action May Have Saved Lives
Another passenger, Brady Sego, shared his experience on Reddit, saying that after the plane touched down, they felt a sudden jolt forward, followed by a loud bang. “It felt like sliding sideways down the runway,” he recalled.
Sego also mentioned that someone had said the pilots might have engaged reverse thrust at the last moment. He expressed his gratitude, believing that the pilots’ quick actions “likely saved our lives.” He added, “I wish I could tell their families how thankful I am. They are heroes.”
Fatalities and Injuries
Unfortunately, both pilots were killed in the crash, and 41 passengers were hospitalized due to injuries. The horrific crash forced LaGuardia Airport in Queens to close for much of Monday.
Investigation and Findings
The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Air traffic control tower audio captured the frantic moments, with one controller admitting they “messed up.”
Photos taken on Monday morning show the cockpit of the plane completely destroyed, and daylight revealed the wreckage on the runway.
