All but four of the passengers injured in Sunday's deadly collision between an Air Canada plane and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport have been released from hospital, the airline said on Wednesday. The crash, which remains under investigation, killed two pilots and left roughly 40 people requiring treatment, some for serious injuries.
The plane, which originated in Montreal, was carrying 70 people when it struck a fire truck that had driven onto the runway. Seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller had cleared the truck to cross. Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking one of two runways at one of the country's busiest airports.
Just before 5pm on Wednesday, airport workers began towing the remnants away. Two large tow trucks working in tandem also righted the badly damaged fire truck, which had been lying on its side since the crash. The jet's tail end was lifted onto a large dolly and towed via long tethers by two vehicles driving side by side. Earlier in the day, much of the wreckage of the nose, which was obliterated in the collision, was cut away by work crews. The middle of the plane was supported by its own landing gear, which appeared intact.
In a statement, Air Canada said the plane would be taken to a hangar and that it would soon begin reuniting passengers with their baggage and personal belongings. After the collision, many onboard managed to escape the damaged aircraft, including a flight attendant who survived after being thrown onto the tarmac while still strapped in her seat.
The two pilots killed in the crash have been identified as Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest. At least one passenger, Clément Lelièvre, credited their “incredible reflexes” in saving his life, noting they braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down.
