Stewardess ‘miracle’ survival after deadly runway collision at LaGuardia

A fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Jazz-operated flight and a fire truck left two pilots dead and dozens injured, while one flight attendant’s survival is being described as extraordinary.

The aircraft, arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew, struck a fire truck that had entered the runway to respond to another incident despite urgent warnings from air traffic control. The impact severed the cockpit, killing both pilots and injuring around 40 people on board, as well as two individuals in the vehicle.

Flight attendant Solange Tremblay was ejected from the aircraft while still strapped into her jump seat, suffering leg fractures but surviving. Aviation experts attribute her survival to the reinforced four-point restraint and robust crew seating design.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, focusing on coordination between air traffic control and ground vehicles. The runway is expected to remain closed for several days as recovery and analysis continue.