AIRPORT HORROR 

Shaken passengers heard ‘bang’ before plane ‘skated down runway’ as two pilots killed in crash with LaGuardia fire truck

A SURVIVOR of an Air Canada flight that smashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport — killing two pilots — has revealed the panic and chaos as passengers fought to escape the wreckage.

Unsettling air traffic control audio captured the moments around Sunday night’s accident, with one controller appearing to admit they “messed up.”

The couple are now being evaluated in hospital following the ordeal.

Speaking exclusively to The U.S. Sun, Joe said, “I’d say about 11.40pm, we were landing. It was a very smooth landing.

“We hit the ground, started to slow down.

“About 30 to 40 seconds into it. I don’t remember the exact timing, but everyone ended up jerking forward, abruptly. And then there was a loud crash and a bang.

“And then it felt like the plane was just skating down the runway for a good distance, until it came to a complete stop.

“Everyone was really confused and didn’t really know what was going on.

“The front of the plane was just warped sideways.”

Passengers, many who had already been injured, were screaming as they battled to escape the plane.

Joe explained, “I was at the exit door, I just took the exit door off, and we all went on the wing and someone eventually came over and then we slid down the wing and they took us to the grass area on the tarmac.

“We were confused, shocked.

“My understanding is that there were some head injuries, people banged their heads on the back of the seat [in front of them].

“The seat in front of us was pretty far but the other people who are with us at the hospital have cuts on their heads.”

FlightRadar24 told ABC News that preliminary data shows the plane was traveling between 93 and 105 mph when it impacted the fire truck.

Asked if they have any injuries, he said, “My fiancée does, but we’re getting them checked out now, but to see the full extent on her body.”

Talking about those who lost their lives, he said, “I feel terrible about the pilots and I think they are honestly heroes.

“The pilots greeted us and were very nice. They saved everybody on that plane.

“I’m at a loss for words, I don’t know what to say but my condolences.”

He added, “I don’t want to speculate on the cause of the crash but we were shaken up.”

Joe explained they were coming back from a weekend in Montreal and the flight was delayed by two and a half hours.

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Jack Cabot, another passenger who escaped the wreckage, told Fox News those on board were screamingCredit: Fox News
 

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Due to the crash late Sunday, US aviation authorities halted all flights at LaGuardiaCredit: AFP
He said, “We were supposed to take off at 8pm. I guess there were maintenance problems, there was something was wrong with the bathroom on the airplane that required maintenance, and then coming back to LaGuardia, it was late because of the security lines and the flight got delayed.

“We took off later than expected and it was a full flight.”

Officials said that at least 41 people were transferred to local hospitals, but 32 were later released.

Passenger Jack Cabot also told Fox News the Jazz Aviation flight “came down really hard” and then “stopped really quickly.”

A few seconds later, “we just had an absolute, like, slam,” he recalled.

“Everybody was flying everywhere. The plane was sort of veering off left and right. It was chaos. It didn’t feel like there was anybody in control.”

The fire truck, staffed by Port Authority police officers responding to another incident, had been cleared to cross the runway moments before impact.

Two officers onboard the truck were seriously injured, suffering broken bones but are expected to survive.

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According to reports, an Air Canada flight attendant was still strapped into her jump seat when she was thrown from the plane.

She miraculously survived when she was ejected from Flight 8646.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration said LaGuardia will stay closed until at least 2 p.m. local time.

In a statement, Air Canada said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families”.