Air Canada Flight Attendant Pictured in Hospital After Surviving LaGuardia Plane Crash
The Air Canada flight attendant who narrowly survived the devastating LaGuardia Airport plane crash has been pictured in hospital for the first time, revealing the severe injuries she sustained. Solange Tremblay was violently thrown 330 feet clear off the aircraft when it collided with a firetruck on the tarmac at the New York City airport last Sunday night. Both pilots tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Conscious Throughout the Terrifying Ordeal
Solange Tremblay was found still strapped into her jump seat on the tarmac, conscious for the entire terrifying event, as revealed by her daughter Sarah Lépine. The flight attendant's legs were shattered in the collision, and she now requires multiple surgeries to repair the extensive damage. Lépine detailed these injuries on a GoFundMe page established to support her mother's recovery.
Tremblay will need skin grafts on her legs and sustained a fracture to her spine, which may also necessitate surgical intervention. Complications arose from her initial surgery, requiring a blood transfusion. "My mom has suffered so much from this event and regrettably her struggles are far from over," Lépine stated. "She will have to undergo several other surgeries, along with intensive rehabilitation to learn how to walk again."
Risk of Infection and Ongoing Fears
The family's greatest current concern is the risk of infection, which could lead to further horrifying complications if her injuries become infected. Despite the severity of her condition, a recent photograph shows Tremblay smiling alongside her daughter in her hospital bed in New York City. "My mother dedicated her entire life as a flight attendant, and was very proud of her work. She loved serving the public and helping them travel safely," Lépine continued.
"Right now, my mom needs your help. She is in New York for the foreseeable future for her recovery where she remains in constant fear of sustaining further damages than she has already suffered." The GoFundMe campaign has already amassed more than $134,000 in donations, reflecting widespread support. Tremblay has been a flight attendant with Air Canada Jazz since 1999, according to her social media profiles.
Pilots Killed and Crash Details
The crash claimed the lives of Air Canada pilots Mackenzie Gunther, 30, and Captain Antoine Forest, 24. Their bodies have since been repatriated to Canada. The incident occurred late Sunday night as the jet was landing and struck an airport fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate incident aboard another plane.
An unidentified air traffic controller quickly realized the mistake and was heard pleading for the fire truck to stop, but it was too late. Surveillance footage released on Monday captured the violent impact, which sheared off the nose of the Air Canada plane traveling at approximately 150mph. Aviation experts noted the tragedy could have been far worse had the truck struck the plane's fuel tanks.
Investigation and Aftermath
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft. Forty-one people required hospitalization, including two firefighters, though most have since been released. The destroyed Air Canada plane and the fire truck were towed from the crash site late Wednesday as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation.
The agency confirmed the truck has been placed in an undisclosed, secure location and deferred questions about the plane's status to Air Canada, which did not immediately respond to inquiries. The airline stated the plane will be placed in a hangar and will soon begin reuniting passengers with their baggage and personal belongings.
