A routine flight from Montreal to New York became a nightmare in the span of minutes — and now investigators say the final moments before the deadly Air Canada collision at LaGuardia Airport may raise serious questions about communication, visibility, and runway safety.
According to information presented by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the cockpit voice and flight data details show how quickly the situation unraveled. The crash occurred around midnight when an Air Canada Express jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia. Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed, and more than 40 people were injured.
At a press briefing, NTSB senior aviation investigator Doug Brazy walked through a precise timeline of the final three minutes — a sequence that begins with normal landing procedures and ends in disaster.
Roughly 3 minutes and 7 seconds before touchdown, the approach controller instructed the aircraft to contact the LaGuardia tower. In the next moments, the crew lowered the landing gear, checked in with tower control, and was cleared to land on Runway 4. The tower also advised the flight it was second in line for landing.
As the aircraft continued its descent, the crew configured the plane for landing: flaps were set to 30 degrees, then 45 degrees. The enhanced ground proximity warning system issued its “1,000” callout, indicating the aircraft was 1,000 feet above the ground. Just over a minute before the end, the crew confirmed the landing checklist was complete.
Then, investigators say, a key moment occurred: about 1 minute and 3 seconds before impact, an airport vehicle made a radio transmission — but that transmission was blocked by another radio call from a source not yet identified. At 54 seconds, the flight crew acknowledged they were 500 feet above the ground and on a stable approach.
At 40 seconds, the tower asked which vehicle needed to cross the runway. The record shows “Truck 1” requested permission to cross Runway 4, and the tower cleared Truck 1 and another vehicle to cross — while the aircraft was continuing its final descent.
In the final seconds, the aircraft’s warning system counted down: “100,” then “50,” “30,” “20,” “10.” The tower instructed Truck 1 to stop at about 9 seconds, and again at 4 seconds. Investigators said a sound consistent with the landing gear touching down on the runway was heard at 8 seconds before the recording ended.
One detail haunting aviation experts: the NTSB said the fire truck was not equipped with a transponder — a key device that helps air traffic control track vehicles on the airfield. Without it, controllers may have had less reliable visibility into the truck’s exact position. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy also said it was not yet clear who was handling ground control duties at the time, describing conflicting information about which controller was responsible.
A FlightRadar24 representative told the outlet the aircraft was traveling about 105 mph at the moment of impact. That speed, combined with the short reaction window, underscores why the final seconds felt so helpless.
For families, the timeline isn’t just data — it’s a painful reminder that normalcy can shatter without warning. Investigators are still collecting evidence, reviewing communications, and determining how multiple layers of procedure and safety intersected in the worst possible way.
The NTSB has not issued final conclusions, but the early findings point to a tragedy shaped by timing, radio traffic, and uncertainty on the ground — and a community now grieving two pilots who never came home.
