QUEENS, NY — In a harrowing firsthand account, a survivor of the fatal Air Canada Express crash at LaGuardia Airport has detailed the terrifying sequence of events that led to the deaths of both pilots and left dozens of passengers injured.
Jack Cabot, a 22-year-old passenger on the Bombardier CRJ-900 flight from Montreal, described a sudden transition from a routine arrival to a violent disaster in what he called the “crazy 12 seconds.”
1. Impact: “The Landing Was Immediately Off”
The aircraft was on its final approach on Monday, March 23, 2026, when the situation turned critical.
- The Collision: The jet, traveling at high speed on the runway, slammed into a Port Authority fire truck that was reportedly crossing the tarmac to respond to an unrelated emergency.
- The Sensation: “It felt like the landing was immediately off,” Cabot told the New York Post. “There was an incredibly loud bang. It was a really, really hard landing.”
2. Inside the Cabin: Chaos and Carnage
The force of the collision caused severe structural damage and internal trauma for those on board.
- Violent Aftermath: Cabot described seeing “blood everywhere,” noting that the passenger directly next to him suffered significant facial injuries.
- The Jump Seat Incident: In one of the most chilling details of the probe, a flight attendant was reportedly thrown a significant distance from the fuselage while still strapped into her jump seat.
- The Rescue: It took emergency crews nearly two hours to extricate passengers trapped in the forward section of the plane.
3. Human Resilience Amid the Wreckage
Despite the trauma, Cabot highlighted the “humanity” displayed by his fellow passengers as they waited for help in the cold Queens air.
- Acts of Kindness: Strangers shared coats to ward off the chill, and one passenger used a face mask to wipe blood from the eyes of a victim.
- Comforting the Vulnerable: An older woman stayed by the side of a young girl traveling alone, providing comfort throughout the two-hour evacuation process.
4. Investigation Status
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since recovered the “black boxes” (flight data and cockpit voice recorders) from the wreckage. Investigators are focusing on the communication breakdown that allowed a rescue vehicle to be on an active runway during a high-speed landing.
For Cabot, who is currently being treated for whiplash and a potential concussion, the goal is to move forward. “It’s not every day you get into a plane crash,” he said, “but I don’t want to let this get in the way of my life.”
LaGuardia Crash Fact Sheet
| Category | Details |
| Aircraft | Bombardier CRJ-900 (Air Canada Express) |
| Origin | Montreal, Canada |
| Fatalities | 2 (Both Pilots) |
| Collision Object | Port Authority Fire Truck |
| NTSB Status | Black boxes recovered; runway incursions under review |