What happened in the seconds before Air Canada plane crashed at LaGuardia

An Air Canada plane experienced a harrowing near-disaster at New York’s LaGuardia Airport when it collided with a fire truck on the runway, resulting in the tragic deaths of two pilots and injuries to several passengers and crew members. The incident, which occurred on March 22, has prompted a detailed investigation into the sequence of events leading up to the collision. BBC Verify has meticulously analyzed air-traffic-control audio recordings and flight-tracking data to reconstruct the critical moments, offering a clearer picture of the unfolding emergency.

The flight, an Air Canada Embraer E190 en route from Toronto, was approaching LaGuardia for a landing when the catastrophic event took place. Initial reports indicated that the aircraft, identified as flight AC797, was cleared for landing on runway 13. However, as the plane descended, a fire truck, reportedly responding to an unrelated incident or conducting a routine maneuver, entered the active runway. The precise communication and coordination between air traffic control, the flight crew, and the airport emergency services are central to understanding how this devastating collision could have occurred.

Air traffic control audio, a crucial piece of evidence, is being scrutinized for any missed calls, unclear instructions, or misinterpretations. These recordings are invaluable for determining the exact timing of clearances, advisories, and any potential warnings that may have been issued or, crucially, not issued. Investigators will be looking for any deviations from standard operating procedures and any contributing factors that might have led to the fire truck being on the runway during the aircraft’s landing sequence. The pilots of flight AC797 would have been focused on executing a safe landing, a complex task even under normal circumstances. The sudden appearance of an obstacle on the runway would have presented them with an immediate and terrifying threat, forcing them to react in fractions of a second.

Flight-tracking data provides a detailed, minute-by-minute account of the aircraft’s trajectory, speed, and altitude leading up to the incident. This data allows investigators to map the plane’s path with precision and cross-reference it with the air traffic control communications. It can help determine the aircraft’s position on the runway at the moment of impact and its speed, offering insights into the forces involved and the potential severity of the collision. The data would also reveal if the pilots attempted any evasive maneuvers.

The fire truck involved in the collision was part of the airport’s emergency response fleet. Its presence on an active runway during an incoming flight raises serious questions about airport safety protocols and communication systems. Investigations will undoubtedly focus on the procedures for dispatching emergency vehicles, the communication channels between the airport operations center and the runway controllers, and the awareness of the fire truck’s crew regarding the incoming aircraft. It is understood that fire trucks at airports often operate on specific frequencies and follow strict protocols to ensure their movements do not interfere with air traffic.

The aftermath of the collision would have been immediate and chaotic. Emergency services would have converged on the scene to attend to the injured and assess the damage to the aircraft and the fire truck. The fact that there were fatalities among the flight crew indicates the significant force of the impact. The injured passengers and crew would have required urgent medical attention, and their accounts will also be vital in piecing together the sequence of events.

This incident is a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with aviation and the paramount importance of rigorous safety procedures at airports. LaGuardia Airport, a busy hub serving the New York metropolitan area, has undergone significant modernization in recent years, but this event underscores that even advanced infrastructure cannot entirely eliminate the possibility of human error or procedural breakdowns.

The investigation is likely to be comprehensive, involving multiple agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and potentially international aviation authorities given the involvement of an Air Canada flight. The findings of this investigation will not only aim to provide closure for the families of those lost but also to identify any systemic issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The analysis of air-traffic-control audio and flight-tracking data, as undertaken by BBC Verify, represents a crucial step in this process, providing an objective and detailed account of the critical seconds before the crash. The aim is to understand every communication, every movement, and every decision made in the moments leading up to the collision to ensure that such a devastating event is never repeated. The report by Jake Horton, supported by graphics from Mesut Ersoz and verification by Daniele Palumbo, highlights the multi-faceted approach being taken to unravel this complex incident.