DWTS alum who survived Air Canada crash says she owes ‘my life’ to late pilots as she shares photo of wreckage

A Dancing With The Stars alum has revealed she survived the Air Canada crash last week – and says she owes her life to the two pilots who perished in the collision.

Two pilots were killed, and at least 41 other people were hospitalized when the Air Canada jet struck a fire truck while landing at the New York City airport last week.

Now Charlotte Jorgensen is recounting the harrowing incident and the bravery of the two pilots who ‘made the ultimate sacrifice’ to save their passengers.

Jorgensen, who was a pro dancer on DWTS in 2005, is now at home recovering, but the incident has taken a toll on her, ‘physically, mentally and emotionally’.

She detailed the ordeal on Sunday with a heartbreaking photo of the wrecked plane as she sent her condolences to the loved ones of the late pilots.

‘A week ago tonight, after a fabulous weekend in Montreal, I boarded Air Canada 8646 bound for La Guardia NYC,’ she posted to her Instagram.

Charlotte Jorgensen of Dancing With The Stars fame has revealed she was one of the surviving passengers onboard Air Canada’s tragic flight to La Guardia

Jorgensen has recounted the harrowing incident and the bravery of the two pilots who ‘made the ultimate sacrifice’ to save their passengers

‘By now, probably most of you have heard of the collision that happened with a firetruck on the runway. I owe my life to two brave souls Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther – they made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all could live…. I am indebted to them and my thoughts are with their families.

‘On the night I felt nothing as adrenaline was rushing through my body but the days after has been tough – physically, mentally and emotionally.

‘I am at home now, and Nelson and Vivianna are taking good care of me. I will be taking time to heal. I am grateful for all the love I have received and I send you all an extra warm hug.

‘Thank you to my @dancingwiththestars family for your care and concern.’

Air Canada pilots Mackenzie Gunther, 30, and Capt. Antoine Forest, 24, were killed in the crash. Their bodies have since been repatriated to Canada.

The crash happened late Sunday night as the jet was landing and struck an airport fire truck that had initially been cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate incident aboard another plane.

The unidentified air traffic controller quickly realized the mistake he had made and was heard pleading for the fire truck to stop, but it was too late.

Surveillance footage released on Monday captured the violent impact, which sheared off the nose of the Air Canada plane, which was traveling at about 150mph.

Jorgensen was partnered with actor John O’Hurley during her run on the show

The duo competed on the hit series in 2005

Aviation experts said the tragedy could have been far worse had the truck struck the plane’s fuel tanks.

Addressing the plane seconds later, the air traffic controller said: ‘JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can’t move. Vehicles are responding to you now.’

The audio from air traffic controllers then showed the dispatcher telling the crew of a nearby Frontier plane that the runway would be closed, asking if they would like to return to the ramp.

‘We got stuff in progress for that man, that wasn’t good to watch,’ a Frontier pilot said.

‘Yeah, I tried to reach out to them. We were dealing with an emergency, and I messed up,’ the controller replied, before the Frontier pilot tries to reassure him, saying: ‘No, you did the best you could.’

Two pilots were killed, and at least 41 other people were hospitalized when the Air Canada jet struck a fire truck while landing at the New York City airport on Sunday

There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft. Forty one people required hospitalization, although most have since been released.

The crash was not caused by ongoing chaos with the Transport Security Administration (TSA) at La Guardia Airport.

An ongoing government shutdown means TSA staff – who screen passengers at security checkpoints – have not been paid since January.

Many have called out or quit, leading to very long lines at security at La Guardia and other airports across the United States.

Air traffic control systems are also short staffed, but have been for years, amid growing warnings controllers are overstretched and that a disaster was inevitable.