A flight attendant on the Air Canada Jazz flight that collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia airport on Sunday survived after being ejected more than 100 metres from the plane while still strapped to her seat, her daughter has described as a 'complete miracle'.
The CRJ-900 jet, operated by Jazz Aviation, was landing when it hit the fire truck, killing both the pilot and co-pilot. Nine people were taken to hospital with injuries, including flight attendant Solange Tremblay.
Tremblay's daughter, Sarah Lépine, told Quebec's TVA News: 'At the moment of impact, her seat was ejected more than 100 metres from the plane. They found her and she was still strapped into her seat. She had a guardian angel watching over her.' Lépine said her mother suffered multiple bone fractures and underwent surgery for a broken leg.
Tremblay had worked for Jazz for 26 years, according to her social media profile. Jazz Aviation, owned by Chorus Aviation, operates short-haul flights under the Air Canada Express brand.
The pilots were identified as Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, who joined Jazz in 2022, and Mackenzie Gunther. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, called the loss 'a profound tragedy'.
Air traffic control recordings captured a controller giving clearance for a vehicle to cross the runway, then trying to stop it: 'Stop, Truck 1. Stop.' After the collision, one controller said the impact 'wasn't good to watch', while another responded: 'I messed up.' The first controller replied: 'Nah, man, you did the best you could.'
