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Air Canada jet hits ground vehicle, shuts down LaGuardia
An Air Canada Express regional jet experienced a collision with a ground vehicle upon landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, leading to an emergency halt on the ground and causing significant flight disruptions. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A flight attendant from Air Canada, who remarkably survived being ejected from the aircraft during last week’s tragic runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, has been seen in the hospital for the first time. Her daughter has shared details about her severe injuries and the extensive recovery process she faces.
Solange Tremblay, a seasoned crew member on Jazz Aviation Flight 8646, operated for Air Canada Express, was discovered on the tarmac, still secured in her jump seat after the crash on March 22, as reported by her daughter, Sarah Lepine.
In an effort to raise funds on GoFundMe, Lepine shared a photo of her mother in the hospital.
“My mom was conscious throughout the ordeal and has suffered severe injuries due to this event,” the fundraising campaign states. “She continues to fight and recover in a New York hospital.”
Left, officials investigate the Monday’s crash site where an Air Canada jet came to rest after colliding with a Port Authority firetruck at LaGuardia Airport, shortly after landing Sunday night in New York; Flight attendant Solange Tremblay. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig; Facebook/Solange Tremblay)
“My mother’s injuries include two shattered legs (open fractures) requiring multiple surgeries where metal plates are needed to repair the damage done to her legs,” the statement continues. “She sustained a fractured spine where she continues to wait and see if surgery is required.”
Lepine added there are more surgeries ahead for her mother, seeking donations to help. The GoFundMe had over $133,000 raised from more than 2,200 donations as of Sunday afternoon.
An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“At the moment our greatest fear is the risk of infection which could lead to other horrifying complications if her injuries become infected,” Lepine added. “Right now, my mom needs your help. She is in New York for the foreseeable future for her recovery where she remains in constant fear of sustaining further damages than she has already suffered.”
The crash killed both pilots when the regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing on Runway 4 at LaGuardia. The National Transportation Safety Board said the March 22 accident remains under investigation, while The Associated Press reported that dozens of passengers and emergency personnel were injured.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti called Tremblay’s survival a miracle when “compared to the destruction of the nose of the airplane.”
“The flight attendant’s seat is kind of a jump seat that folds down and is bolted to the wall, the same wall that the cockpit utilizes,” said Guzzetti, a former federal crash investigator.
“It’s a very robust seat,” he added. “It’s designed to withstand probably more crash loads than passenger seats because you need the flight attendant to help passengers get out of an airplane after a crash.”