A passenger aboard a flight involved in a deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport is recounting the terrifying moments after impact, describing chaos inside the cabin as travelers scrambled to escape.
Rebecca Liquori, who was on the Air Canada flight, said the crash occurred moments after landing when the aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway—an incident that left the pilot and co-pilot dead and injured several others.
“I wouldn’t have never pictured a one-hour flight… ending like this,” Liquori said, reflecting on the ordeal in an interview with News 12.
Moments Before Impact
Liquori described how passengers felt a sudden jolt as the plane touched down, followed by the sound of braking.
“You heard the pilot try to brake… like he was trying to prevent the collision,” she said.
Seconds later, a loud explosion-like sound shook the aircraft.
“It was just a very loud boom. And everybody just jolted out of their seats,” she recalls.
Chaos Inside the Cabin
According to Liquori, the force of the collision caused multiple passengers to be thrown forward, with some hitting their heads and sustaining visible injuries.
“People were bleeding,” she said, adding that she immediately began checking on those around her.
As panic spread, another passenger urged her to help open an emergency exit door, which she did as passengers began evacuating.
Emergency Evacuation
Passengers exited the aircraft via the wing, with many sliding down to safety as emergency responders arrived on the scene.
“By the time I got out, there was emergency personnel,” Liquori said, noting that responders assisted passengers as they evacuated.
She later observed the extent of the aircraft’s damage from outside, describing the aftermath as severe.
Injuries and Aftermath
Liquori said she sustained minor injuries, including bruising from her seatbelt and pain while breathing due to the impact.
Authorities have not yet released full details on the cause of the collision, but investigations are ongoing. The incident has raised concerns about runway safety and coordination between aircraft and ground vehicles at busy airports.
