Air Canada passenger seated at emergency exit says pilots’ actions saved lives
Air Canada Passenger by Emergency Exit Credits Pilots’ Actions with Saving Lives
On a misty Sunday evening at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, an unexpected event set off a chain of events that would lead to a tragic collision. A United Airlines aircraft, still waiting to depart, was affected by a strong smell in its cabin, according to audio transcripts shared with air traffic controllers. This prompted the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to send a fire and rescue vehicle to the scene. Meanwhile, in the air, Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was en route from Montreal, carrying Rebecca Liquori, a 35-year-old nurse from North Baldwin, New York, who had just returned from a family event.
The Collision Unfolds
As the plane began its descent, an announcement alerting passengers to a potential emergency landing left Liquori shaken. “Don’t bring your luggage with you—just exit fast,” a flight attendant said over the speaker, she recalled. The turbulence was intense, but the plane landed safely. Then came the crash. “It felt like a grinding noise followed by a deafening boom,” Liquori described. “I’ve never heard anything like it.”
Passengers’ Accounts of the Chaos
Shortly after 11:45 p.m., Flight 8646 and the fire truck collided on LaGuardia’s Runway 4, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to around 40 passengers and two individuals on the ground. The cause remains under investigation, with aviation experts examining factors like radio malfunctions, improper runway crossings, and possible human mistakes. In audio records, a controller first instructed the vehicle to cross the runway before ordering it to stop. “I messed up,” the controller later admitted.
“Everybody was scared. Everyone thought they were going to die,” Liquori said. Her mind raced to her young sons, wondering if she’d ever hear their laughter again or feel their hugs. “I kept thinking, ‘Will I get to tickle them?’”
After the impact, passengers scrambled to exit. Liquori, using her medical training, opened the emergency door to help others. “In emergencies, it’s best to act quickly,” she explained. Many jumped from the wings, and she estimated she exited the plane within minutes. Jack Cabot, a 22-year-old student, recounted the violence of the crash: “When we hit the truck, everyone lurched forward. Blood was flying—some from the nose, others from the forehead, streaming down glasses.”
Emergency Response and Recognition
At a Monday afternoon press event, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani highlighted the bravery of those on board. “Those who stayed calm and assisted others—like passengers who opened the emergency exit—deserve recognition,” he stated. Despite the severity, fatal accidents at LaGuardia are uncommon. This incident occurred exactly 34 years after a USAir flight bound for Cleveland crashed shortly after takeoff in 1992, claiming 27 lives.
Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and other agencies are now analyzing the crash, which left the aircraft’s front section severely damaged. The event underscores the unpredictable nature of aviation safety, even at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
