Heart-stopping audio has emerged capturing the chaotic moments leading up to a tragic collision at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday. The incident involved an Air Canada passenger jet and a firefighting truck, resulting in the deaths of the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. An air traffic controller can be heard admitting, “we messed up,” in the tense exchanges recorded by LiveATC.
As the accident unfolded, air traffic controllers quickly instructed an incoming aircraft to abort its landing and circle the airport. This urgent command came as the crash occurred on the ground, highlighting the desperate attempts to prevent further tragedy.
The firefighting truck had been given clearance to cross the airport’s Runway 4 moments before controllers urgently commanded both a Frontier Airlines plane, headed for Miami, and the truck to come to an immediate halt.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop,” the controller implored repeatedly, in a bid to avert disaster. “Truck one, stop, stop, stop. Stop Truck 1. Stop,” echoed the frantic plea.
In the midst of the unfolding drama, Delta flight 2603, flying in from Detroit, was instructed to abort its landing and circle back. Meanwhile, the controller turned attention to the Air Canada flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, which had just arrived from Montreal.
“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 air traffic controller conveyed, as emergency response teams rushed to the scene.
Air traffic controllers told the Frontier crew 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,” Frontier pilots said.
“Yeah, I tried to reach out to ‘em.. And we were dealing with an emergency and I messed up,” the controller replied.
“No, you did the best you could,” Frontier crews said, trying to reassure the air traffic controller.
Sources told The Post that the pilot and co-pilot were killed and pictures showed the CRJ-900 plane tilting in the air.
The plane, which had 72 passengers and four crew members on board, was traveling about 24 mph when it collided with the truck, which was responding to an emergency involving another plane.
Officials told ABC News 11 passengers on the Air Canada plane and 2 first responders were hospitalized.
Moments before the smash, United 2384 pilots aborted a takeoff due to an anti-ice warning light appearing on the dash, according to CBS News.
Pilots reported an odor in the cabin which caused flight attendants to feel ill.
LaGuardia airport has been closed until 2 p.m. and National Transportation Safety Board officials are set to arrive on site Monday.
