The pilot and copilot of an Air Canada jet, which was carrying 70 passengers, were killed and 40 passengers were injured, some severely, after the plane collided with a fire truck that was crossing the tarmac. According to The Associated Press, the fire truck was crossing the tarmac after being given permission to check on another plane that was reporting an odor onboard. Just before the crash, an air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop. About 20 minutes later, the controller appears to blame himself saying “We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.”
About 40 passengers and crew members on the regional jet from Montreal and two officers from the fire truck, were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries. Officials said most were released shortly afterwards. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased pilots. We also wish all those who were injured in this crash the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.
Ongoing Investigation
Mary Schiavo, a former Department of Transportation Inspector General, told the AP that a key question for investigators will be to examine coordination of the airport’s air traffic and ground traffic at the time of the crash. She said some of the most horrific air crashes in history have happened on the ground at the airport. The crash shut down La Guardia, the region’s third busiest hub for several hours during an already chaotic time in U.S. airports because of a partial government shutdown.
One of the passengers in the Air Canada flight, Rebecca Liquori, said that after the plane hit turbulence while descending, she felt it brake hard and then heard a loud boom. She said everyone was “jolted out of their seats” while some hit their heads and were bleeding. Liquori who said she helped open the emergency exit door, recalled passengers helping each other slide down a wing to get out.
The pilot and co-pilot who both died, were based out of Canada, officials said. The fire truck was traveling across the runway to respond to a separate incident aboard a United Airlines flight whose pilot had reported an odor on board. Two Port Authority employees in the fire truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, AP reported. Officials from several agencies are investigating this fatal aviation accident.
Liability Issues
Liability in ground accidents that occur at airports can be complex and depend on the specific circumstances of the incident. At U.S. airports, both airlines and emergency responders operate under rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration, along with local airport authorities. If a fire truck is responding to an emergency, liability may hinge on whether it followed proper right-of-way protocols and communication procedures with air traffic control. Emergency vehicles are often granted priority, but they must still coordinate movements to avoid collisions.
On the airline side, pilots must comply with air traffic control instructions and maintain situational awareness while taxiing. If a pilot deviates from instructions or fails to yield when required, the airline may bear partial or full liability. Maintenance issues, poor visibility, or inadequate training can also become relevant factors in such collisions.
Airports can share liability if runway or taxiway design, signage or communication systems contributed to the incident. Investigations by agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board often determine what the contributing factors were in an accident.
Adding to the complexity of such cases, insurance companies play a major role. Aviation liability insurance is typically required for commercial operators. Victims or their families may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit, seeking compensation including, but not limited to, medical bills, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an airplane accident caused by negligence (carelessness), the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus, although there was only a 1 million dollar insurance policy and we got $500,000 above that insurance policy.
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Source: https://apnews.com/article/new-york-laguardia-airport-air-canada-collision-6a3cbabbeed76125fa5f7aed32679fd8