What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash
What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash
Two pilots perished in the collision between a passenger jet and a Port Authority fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. Their identities have been confirmed as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, according to Canadian news outlets and a college associated with one of them. Authorities have not yet officially named the pair, though they disclosed that both pilots of the Canada Air Express flight were based in Canada.
Investigation into the crash
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are examining the incident to determine how the fire truck managed to enter the jet’s path shortly after it landed. Initial findings from the cockpit voice recorder, shared during a Tuesday news conference, revealed that the truck was granted clearance to cross the runway 20 seconds prior to the crash.
“The firetruck was cleared to cross the runway 20 seconds before the crash,” said Doug Brazy, NTSB’s senior aviation investigator.
Brazy detailed the sequence of events, noting that at 2 minutes and 22 seconds, the flight crew communicated with the tower. Earlier, at 2 minutes and 17 seconds, the tower authorized the plane to land on Runway 4. A radio transmission from an airport vehicle was heard at 1 minute and 3 seconds, but it was “stepped on” by another message, according to Brazy. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy explained this interference could indicate a communication issue.
At 54 seconds, the tower informed the crew that the plane was on a stable approach. Then, at 40 seconds, the tower asked which vehicle required runway access. The fire truck responded, and the tower acknowledged the request. Twenty-five seconds later, the truck asked for permission to cross Runway 4. At 20 seconds, the tower granted the clearance, and the truck repeated the instruction 17 seconds before the crash.
Controller responsibilities and conflicting reports
Homendy mentioned that during the crash, two individuals were operating in the tower cabin: a local controller and the controller in charge. The local controller oversees active runways and surrounding airspace, while the controller in charge manages all safety operations and was also handling clearance delivery duties, which provide departure instructions to pilots.
However, the NTSB is still uncertain about who was managing the ground control tasks, which involve coordinating aircraft and vehicle movement on taxiways. “We have conflicting information. Some say it was the controller in charge, others claim it was the local controller,” Homendy noted.
Homendy highlighted that dual staffing is standard during midnight shifts in national airspace systems. Yet, she acknowledged past concerns about fatigue affecting performance during these hours. “I do not know, I have no indication that was a factor here, but it is a shift we’ve focused on in previous investigations,” she said. The local controller logged in at 10:45 p.m., while the controller in charge arrived at 10:30 p.m.
Passenger impact and aftermath
The pilots’ quick actions likely saved the lives of 72 passengers and two crew members aboard the plane. Despite the crash, most of the over 40 individuals treated for injuries were released with minor harm. Jack Cabot, 22, a passenger on the Canada Air flight, recounted his experience: “From my seat in the 18th row, I could feel the pilots trying to slow the plane before the collision.”
Cabot sustained a cheek bruise and neck sore after his head struck the seat in front. He described the moment as a sudden impact, emphasizing the pilots’ efforts to mitigate damage. The crash remains a focal point for ongoing investigations, with officials working to uncover the full sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
