The two pilots who tragically lost their lives in a plane crash at LaGuardia are being hailed for their heroism; they saved everyone else on board.
Rebecca Licoli, a passenger, expressed her gratitude, stating she feels “forever in debt” to pilot Antoine Forrest and co-pilot Mackenzie Gunther. Their actions came as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was struck while responding to another emergency.
Licoli described how the pilots initiated braking immediately upon landing, believing they likely saved the 72 passengers on board, despite the fatal outcome for the pilot. The crew, she noted, managed to escape safely using emergency chairs.
“I really believe the pilots saved our lives,” Licoli shared with CNN. “Thanks to them, I got to return home to my boys. My thoughts are with their families.”
Another passenger, Jack Cabot, echoed similar sentiments, crediting his survival to Forrest and Gunther. He recalled the moment the plane touched down, describing a sensation of tension in the brakes that suggested something was amiss. “Then, all of a sudden, panic struck as I felt the impact and the lack of control,” Cabot explained.
The pilot seemingly utilized reverse thrust to decelerate the jet. This technique redirects engine exhaust to help slow the plane faster after landing.
Clément Lelièvre, another passenger, remarked on the pilot’s intense braking, attributing their survival to his quick instincts. “I don’t know the specifics, but I think he must have had incredible reflexes,” he said.
The flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, was en route from Montreal when the collision occurred around 11:45 p.m. The aftermath resulted in 41 individuals hospitalized, including two first responders on the fire truck.
Footage captured the moment the airplane collided with the truck, which was significantly damaged, leading to the front of the jet being severely impacted.
In the recordings from air traffic control, frantic commands can be heard just before the crash, urgently urging, “Stop, stop, stop!”
Runway 4, where the crash took place, is expected to remain closed for several days as cleanup crews address the extensive debris scattered across the area.
