What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash

What we know about the LaGuardia plane and fire truck crash

Two pilots who lost their lives in the collision between a commercial airliner and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport have been named as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther. While authorities have not yet formally announced their identities, confirmation came from Canadian news outlets and a college attended by one of the pilots. The incident occurred late Sunday night, and both were based in Canada, according to initial reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are conducting an investigation into the crash. A key focus is understanding how the fire truck managed to cross the jet’s path shortly after it landed. Preliminary data from the cockpit voice recorder, shared during a Tuesday news conference, indicates the truck was cleared to enter the runway 20 seconds prior to the crash.

“The firetruck was cleared to cross the runway 20 seconds before the crash,” said Doug Brazy, NTSB’s senior aviation investigator. “At 2 minutes and 22 seconds, the flight crew contacted the tower. At 2 minutes and 17 seconds, the tower permitted the plane to land on Runway 4.”

According to Brazy, a radio transmission from an airport vehicle was heard at 1 minute and 3 seconds. However, the message was “stepped on” by another transmission, creating potential interference. The NTSB chairwoman, Jennifer Homendy, noted that this might have disrupted communication. The plane was deemed to be in a stable approach at 54 seconds, as confirmed by the tower.

At 40 seconds, the tower asked which vehicle required runway access. The fire truck responded, and the tower acknowledged the request. The truck then requested permission to cross Runway 4 at 25 seconds, with the tower granting clearance at 20 seconds. The truck read back the instruction at 17 seconds. Later, the tower instructed the fire truck to stop at 9 seconds, just before the landing gear touched down at 8 seconds.

“The pilot transferred control at 6 seconds,” Brazy explained. “Homendy added that two individuals were managing the tower cabin during the crash: a local controller overseeing active runways and airspace, and the controller in charge, responsible for overall safety operations.”

Homendy highlighted the uncertainty surrounding who was handling ground control duties, which manage aircraft and vehicle movement on taxiways. “We have conflicting information,” she said. “Some say it was the controller in charge; others claim it was the local controller.” She noted that having two controllers during the midnight shift is standard practice, though past concerns about fatigue with this schedule have been raised.

The local controller began their shift at 10:45 p.m., while the controller in charge started at 10:30 p.m. Despite the crash, the pilots are credited with saving the lives of 72 passengers and two crew members by swiftly braking and reducing the impact force. Over 40 people were treated for injuries, mostly minor, with some remaining hospitalized for more serious conditions.

Jack Cabot, a 22-year-old passenger on the Canada Air flight, described the moment of impact from his seat in row 18. He reported feeling the pilots’ efforts to slow the plane before the collision. The crash left him with a cheek bruise and a sore neck after his head struck the seat in front.