NEW YORK (AP) — A flight attendant remains alive after being thrown from an Air Canada plane that collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport, her daughter reported.
Sarah Lepine stated on Monday that her mother, Solange Tremblay, sustained multiple fractures to one leg and will require surgery but was otherwise fine. An aviation safety expert noted that her survival was likely due to being secured in a seat equipped with a four-point restraint system used by crew members.
“It’s a total miracle,” said Lepine, expressing her disbelief while adding, “She definitely has a guardian angel watching over her.”
The incident involved an Air Canada jet landing with over 70 passengers aboard when it collided with a Port Authority vehicle responding to an emergency at another aircraft on Sunday night. The collision devastated the nose of the plane, claiming the lives of the pilot and co-pilot.
Experts, including former federal crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti, echoed the sentiment of a miracle, highlighting the severe damage to the airplane compared to the flight attendant's survival.
“The flight attendant’s seat is a robust structure, designed to endure more stress than standard passenger seats, ensuring crew members can assist evacuations in emergencies,” Guzzetti said.
Remarkably, this event draws parallels to a previous incident in 2013, when flight attendants were injured during a crash landing at San Francisco International Airport. Only time will tell the long-term effects this incident will have on those involved.
