The members of the Port Authority PBA are saddened by the deaths of the two Air Canada Flight 8646 pilots and offer their sincere condolences to their families. The Port Authority PBA is also grateful that the Port Authority police officer and sergeant are in stable condition, and we hope for their complete recoveries.
On Sunday, March 22, at the LaGuardia Airport, police officers from the Port Authority Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter (ARFF) Unit were responding to an aircraft emergency as they approached Runway 4. Truck 1 was in the lead and received instruction from Air Traffic Control for the ARFF Unit to cross the runway. As Truck 1 began crossing, it was struck by Air Canada Flight 8646.
The tragic crash occurred in view of the other ARFF units. Members of those units immediately initiated rescue operations, evacuating passengers and securing their safety while not knowing if their fellow officers in Truck 1 were dead or alive. True professionalism.
