A flight attendant on an Air Canada Express flight miraculously survived after being found outside the aircraft following a runway collision in New York.
Flight Attendant Identified, Hospitalized
The Air Canada flight attendant was identified by her daughter, Solange Tremblay, and found alive outside the plane, still secured by her seatbelt.
Tremblay has multiple fractures and is hospitalized, where she will undergo surgery on her broken leg. She was ejected approximately 300 feet (90 meters) from the aircraft.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred Sunday evening around 11:47 PM local time (4:47 AM Polish time). The Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire and rescue vehicle on the LaGuardia Airport runway.
This marks the first fatal incident at LaGuardia Airport in over three decades.
Control Tower Error Under Investigation
An investigation is underway to determine the details of the accident. According to “The Washington Post,” air traffic control briefly asked the rescue vehicle driver to stop before the collision.
The controller later admitted to making a mistake and will be questioned.
Concerns Raised Over Air Traffic Control Funding
The incident has sparked concerns about staffing shortages in air traffic control at major U.S. airports and the need for increased funding for safety system modernization.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated his calls to Congress for an additional $19 billion to complete the air traffic control modernization program.
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