Prior to the tragic Air Canada accident at LaGuardia Airport, which resulted in the loss of two lives and left 41 individuals injured, pilots had voiced safety concerns to aviation authorities.
One of the pilots expressed apprehension, comparing conditions at LaGuardia on stormy days to those at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport before a previous incident, according to a CNN report.
In a detailed report submitted the previous summer, the pilot highlighted that air traffic controllers failed to provide adequate instructions regarding the proximity of aircraft in the vicinity. They also noted that a crucial runway lighting system, instrumental in averting ground collisions, had been turned off.
Pleading for intervention, the pilot urged, “please do something,” mere months before the unfortunate crash that claimed the lives of pilot Antoine Forest and co-pilot Mackenzie Gunther.
The report also recounted a specific incident where air traffic controllers authorized a takeoff for a plane on the ground while the reporting pilot’s aircraft was descending to only 300 feet above runway 22.
In the Aviation Safety Reporting System document obtained by The Post, the pilot observed, “The voice that acknowledged the takeoff clearance, likely the First Officer, appeared unconcerned, yet the departing aircraft hesitated momentarily before moving.”
“I believe this was because the Captain of that flight was likely the pilot flying, and was in a position to see how close we were to landing. I think he or she thought twice before starting their takeoff roll.”
The pilot decided to land the plane rather than go around due to haze caused by the Canadian wildfires and a possible helicopter in the area.
“I judged it safer to continue the approach and land around 10 seconds after the departing aircraft crossed our path, instead of suddenly going around and trusting that the helicopter was not near the departure end of 22,” they said.
The pilot voiced another safety concern about lights on the airport’s other runway, 13. They claimed this system had been disabled.
“In the past, this system provided an additional layer of safety to prevent runway incursions. Now, I never see it light up anymore when I am waiting in position on 13 while a plane lands on 22. The pace of operations is building in LGA,” they said.
“The controllers are pushing the line. On thunderstorm days, LGA is starting to feel like DCA before the accident there.”
The January 2025 crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport saw 67 people killed after an American Airlines plane collided with a US Army helicopter.
Other pilots reported how stop commands were issued by LaGuardia ground control just in time, averting potential disasters, according to CNN.
The Air Canada plane plowed into the fire truck Sunday night, responding to an incident on the ground, after it touched down from Montreal.
The truck had been given clearance to cross the runway, but the plane had also been given the green light to land.
Just moments before the horror unfolded, air traffic controllers frantically urged the truck to stop. The air traffic controller said he “messed up” in audio released afterward.
Forest and Gunther were killed but their actions have been hailed by survivors on board the stricken jet.
“Someone did say the pilot tried to reverse thrust at the last second. Honestly, they likely saved our lives. I wish I could tell their families how thankful I am,” passenger Brady Sego wrote on Reddit.
Long Island nurse Rebecca Liquori, 35, told local News 12 the plane’s landing was rough before the pilots hit the brakes.
“It was like the plane jolted, and you heard the pilot try to brake trying to prevent the collision.”
The plane’s front was left completely mangled following the smash – and the crash caused operations at LaGuardia to be suspended until 2 p.m. Monday.
