Air Canada Flight Attendant Injured in LaGuardia Collision
TORONTO (TNND) — An Air Canada flight attendant is recovering in a New York hospital following a collision at LaGuardia Airport on March 22.
According to her daughter, Solange Tremblay, a crew member on Jazz Aviation Flight 8646, was ejected over 320 feet during the incident involving a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle. She remains hospitalized with severe injuries, including two shattered legs and a fractured spine.
As of Monday, a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $185,000 to assist with Tremblay's recovery, which will require multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. Her daughter, Sarah Lepine, expressed concern about the risk of infection and additional complications.
Both pilots aboard the flight were killed in the crash, marking the first fatal incident at LaGuardia in 34 years. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia stated that the fire truck was responding to an odor issue reported by another aircraft when the incident occurred.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the collision, focusing on the malfunction of the ASDE-X runway warning system, which was reportedly non-functional because the fire truck lacked a transponder. Investigators are seeking answers as to why the fire truck was on the runway during the aircraft's approach.
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau announced his retirement amid criticism of his response to the incident. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment over Rousseau's lack of bilingual communication, stating it reflected poorly on his judgment.