The daughter of a flight attendant who was ejected from Air Canada Flight 8646 during Sunday's crash has shared an update on her condition.
On Sunday (22 March) night an Air Canada Express Jet - operated by Jazz Aviation - travelling from Montreal to New York collided with a fire truck shortly after landing at LaGuardia airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens others.
The plane is believed to have been travelling between 24 and 30 mph when it collided with the vehicle.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia later confirmed to reporters that 41 of the 74 surviving passengers and crew were taken to hospital in the aftermath of the crash, with nine remaining hospitalised last night.
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Meanwhile two Port Authority employees travelling in the fire engine suffered injuries from the crash, however they are not believed to be life-threatening.
Those injured included a flight attendant who was flung from the aircraft during the collision.
According to CNN, the woman was found strapped into one of the plane's jump seats, which had been ejected towards the front of the aircraft and fallen through a hole.
The woman has since been identified as Solange Tremblay, with her daughter confirming that she survived the crash without any serious injuries.
Speaking to Quebec broadcaster TVA Nouvelles, Tremblay’s daughter, Sarah Lépine, explained that her mother had suffered multiple fractures, including a broken leg, but no other serious injuries.
She will now undergo surgery for her broken leg.
"It's a complete miracle," the Lépine told the outlet. "She had a guardian angel watching over her. It could have been much worse."
Lépine added that her mother had been seated behind cockpit when the plane landed.
How did the Air Canada crash happen?
An investigation into the crash is underway, with initial reports suggesting the emergency vehicle (truck 1) was crossing the runway to assist a United Airlines flight bound for Chicago after it failed to take off, due to reports of a foul odor in the cabin (per CBS).
Audio from LaGuardia's air traffic control tower heard moments before the collision revealed that the emergency vehicle was cleared to cross runway 4 in order to assist the United Airlines aircraft before being told to 'stop'.
"Stop Truck 1, stop, stop, stop!" the controller can be heard telling the truck, before they had to switch attention to another plane that had been coming in to land and ordered it to 'go around runway'.
Switching back to the Air Canada jet, the controller can then be heard saying: "Jazz 646, I see you collided with vehicle here, just hold position. I know you can't move. The vehicles are responding to you now."
Topics: US News
Brenna Cooper