Transcripts from the tragic crash at LaGuardia Airport reveal an air traffic controller admitted he ‘messed up’ moments after an Air Canada jet collided with a runway fire truck.
Audio recordings expose how the controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway for an unrelated emergency, only to order it to “stop, stop, stop” seconds before the crash.
“I tried to reach out to my stuff, and we were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up,” the controller confessed during a conversation with a Frontier Airlines pilot on duty.
Crash Details: Two Pilots Dead, Dozens Injured
The Air Canada flight, carrying 72 passengers and four crew, slammed into a Port Authority firetruck late Sunday night. Two pilots died in the collision, while at least 41 others were hospitalised.
Harrowing images show the plane mangled on the tarmac following the crash. A female flight attendant was reportedly thrown from the front of the jet but survived and was rushed to the hospital.
Passenger Jack Cabot described the impact, saying it sent “everybody flying everywhere” inside the cabin, and the scene was “absolute chaos.”
Chaos at LaGuardia: Airport Shut Down, Flights Delayed
LaGuardia remains shut until at least 2pm Monday, causing major disruption and stranding thousands of passengers. This comes amid nationwide airport delays linked to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Delta Airlines warned of ongoing cancellations and delays, urging patience as emergency teams continue to respond.
Official Reactions and Investigations Underway
US President Donald Trump called the crash “terrible,” blaming human error. He said, “They made a mistake. It’s a dangerous business.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sadness, promising close cooperation in the investigation.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer vowed to watch the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probe “like a hawk” to uncover exactly what went wrong.
Sources say the controller was managing two positions simultaneously, a common practice during night shifts when traffic is lighter.
