>> Continued From the Previous Page <<
One survivor described the terrifying moments leading up to and following the crash, painting a picture of chaos and confusion inside the cabin.
“As we were arriving, we came down really hard,” passenger Jack Cabot said. “We stopped really quickly and about two seconds later we had an absolute slam. Everybody was flying everywhere, I mean, the plane started veering off left and right. And there was, it was just chaos.”
Cabot continued, highlighting the apparent lack of control during the final moments. “It didn’t feel like anyone was in control of anything,” he said. “Looking back on it, the pilot did the best thing he could. He hit the brakes as hard as he could and he knew it was going to be at the cost of his own life.”
According to Cabot, many passengers suffered visible injuries, particularly to the head. “A lot of people got pretty hurt,” he added, underscoring the severity of the impact.
Federal authorities have launched an immediate investigation into the deadly crash. Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are working to determine how a fire truck ended up directly in the path of a landing aircraft. In the immediate aftermath, the FAA issued a ground stop at LaGuardia, temporarily halting all incoming and outgoing flights while emergency crews secured the scene.
The airport remained closed for several hours as investigators began their work and officials assessed the damage and risk factors involved in the incident.
The shocking nature of the collision quickly drew reactions from top New York officials, many of whom expressed grief and concern while calling for answers.
Kathy Hochul described the tragedy as “heartbreaking,” adding, “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected.”
Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani confirmed he had been briefed on the situation and emphasized ongoing coordination between agencies. “The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and the City is in close contact with federal, state, and local partners,” he said. He also praised emergency crews, stating, “I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives.”
City Comptroller Mark Levin did not mince words, calling the crash “horrific.” In a statement, he wrote, “My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” while stressing the need for accountability: “Will be critical to learn what failures allowed this to happen.”
Adding to the day’s aviation concerns, operations at Newark Liberty International Airport were also briefly disrupted earlier in the morning. According to the FAA, air traffic controllers evacuated a control tower due to a burning smell traced to an elevator, prompting a temporary halt in flights. Service was later restored.
As investigators dig deeper into the LaGuardia disaster, questions are mounting about safety coordination, communication breakdowns, and whether this tragedy could have been prevented. For now, families are mourning, survivors are recovering, and a shaken public is left demanding answers.
