More chilling details have emerged from the deadly LaGuardia runway collision, with one passenger crediting the pilot’s rapid actions in the final moments for saving dozens of lives. Rebecca Liquori, who was on board the ill-fated Air Canada Express flight, firmly believes she “wouldn’t be here had it not been for the pilot acting quickly.” This collision, which occurred on March 22, sadly resulted in the deaths of both pilots and left more than 40 people injured.
According to People, the incident unfolded around 11:40 PM local time when Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a CRJ-900 regional jet operated by Jazz Aviation, was landing at LaGuardia Airport. The flight, originating from Montreal, collided with a fire truck that was crossing runway four. The emergency vehicle had been on the runway responding to a separate incident, making for an incredibly tragic confluence of events.
Liquori, a 35-year-old from North Baldwin, N.Y., was seated in an exit row and had been dozing during the descent after a delayed flight. She recalled the plane hitting “a lot of turbulence” as it approached the runway. “Then we landed very roughly,” she said, adding “everyone felt it.” Liquori distinctly remembered the plane jolting, and then “heard the pilot try to brake, trying to prevent the collision.” Moments later, the impact hit, in which “everybody jolted out of their seats.”
Liquori’s account highlights the incredible sacrifice made by the pilots
The force of the collision was devastating, completely destroying the cockpit and causing severe structural damage to the front of the aircraft. Pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther were both tragically killed in the crash. Despite this, 72 passengers and four crew members survived. Liquori expressed immense gratitude, stating, “I’m just so appreciative that they were able to save us, but I’m just so sad that they weren’t able to make it home to their families.”
Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse weighed in on the crash, noting the dramatic nature of the photos from the scene. He explained that these images “literally speak to how fast that aircraft was going and how much energy it had when it impacted the firetruck.”
Given the catastrophic damage, Brickhouse found the number of survivors to be truly remarkable. “It’s sad that we had two fatalities, the captain and the first officer, but looking at those pictures, it’s miraculous that we didn’t have more,” he said, adding that the pilots “did the best they could” under such dire circumstances.
Both Forest and Gunther were young pilots at the beginning of their aviation journeys. While details about the crash are still coming forward, many people have mourned their losses. This collision is a stark reminder of their incredible skill and quick thinking, even in a moment of extreme peril, and the profound impact their actions had on so many lives.
The immediate aftermath saw all flights at LaGuardia halted, with the airport remaining shut for a thorough investigation until at least 2:00 PM the following day.
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