2 Air Canada Pilots killed at Laguardia

Butler1000

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Oct 31, 2011
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Same reason you traveled there before, to showcase your waiter skills and make sure everyone is using the right fork for their salad. 🤷‍♂️
Nah, blackjack, poker, steakhouse....

Theme rides, roller-coasters, more steakhouse.....

Good waiters don't point out cutlery mistakes, we just replace a necessary. I guess since your only dining experience involves plastic cutlery you need to be educated on these things.
 
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JohnnyWishbone

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May 7, 2019
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Absolutely correct. While the controller's clearance to cross the runway was a mistake (he obviously forgot about clearing the Air Canada RJ to land several minutes prior-which we don't in Canada or ANYWHERE else in the world) , anyone crossing an active runway, has the PRIMARY responsibility to look and ensure they can cross safely. The truck driver just roared right through without even slowing down.
I think something similar happened in 2013 in SFO with the Asiana airlines where the fire truck just stormed in and ran over one of the passengers and ran over her head and killed her
 

GameBoy27

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Nov 23, 2004
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Here is a link to professional airline pilots forum discussing the accident. If anyone wants some real expert, experienced insight. Not just the talking heads babbling away breathlessly.

My point is (which was echoed by someone in that forum you posted) is even though the fire truck was given clearance to enter the runway, is it not wise to slow down and have a look before you proceed onto the runway? I’m not sure what the protocol is, but it would make sense to have emergency vehicles come to a stop before they enter/cross a runway.

Similarly, if you’re a pedestrian waiting for the light to change to cross the street. Do you just assume vehicles are going to come to a stop and proceed when the walk signal changes, or do you look left and right before you step off the curb?
 

SchlongConery

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Jan 28, 2013
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My point is (which was echoed by someone in that forum you posted) is even though the fire truck was given clearance to enter the runway, is it not wise to slow down and have a look before you proceed onto the runway? I’m not sure what the protocol is, but it would make sense to have emergency vehicles come to a stop before they enter/cross a runway.

Similarly, if you’re a pedestrian waiting for the light to change to cross the street. Do you just assume vehicles are going to come to a stop and proceed when the walk signal changes, or do you look left and right before you step off the curb?
Yes, you are right. The fire truck should have made sure the runway was clear before barrelling across without stopping to check the runway was safe to cross. It is a legal requirement
 
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glamphotographer

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Nov 5, 2011
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This Air Canada passenger explains what happened. The seat belts probably saved their lives. Remember to always keep your seat belts on even after the plane has landed, as accidents are most likely to occur during landing and taxing the runway.

 
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SchlongConery

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This Air Canada passenger explains what happened. The seat belts probably saved their lives. Remember to always keep your seat belts on even after the plane has landed, as accidents are most likely to occur during landing and taxing the runway.

And keep your shoes on!
 

PvtJoker

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Aug 3, 2024
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Here's a question, I know he got the go ahead but why didn't the driver of the fire truck look both ways before proceeding.
We learn that in grade school although I see many pedestrians jump off the sidewalk onto the road without a care in the world.
The taxiway and the runway were not at right angles; the plane was coming from behind and on the opposite side of the truck driver. This would have made it easy for the truck driver not to see.
 
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jalimon

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Jan 10, 2016
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A stewardess was ejected and found 100 meters from the crash site still strapped to her seat :oops:

I froze when I saw her picture. She was the lead attendant on many flights I took on such Bombardier Jet for New York, DC Reagan or Boston....

God bless she's still alive.
 
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Phil C. McNasty

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Dec 27, 2010
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I froze when I saw her picture. She was the lead attendant on many flights I took on such Bombardier Jet for New York, DC Reagan or Boston....

God bless she's still alive.
Aside from a broken leg she came through it unscathed

 

K Douglas

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Jan 5, 2005
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Not really, planes are not structurally strong as a fire rescue truck as planes are made of aluminum and not solid steel like the truck.

That flight attendant in the jump seat in cockpit is lucky to be alive as they were thrown onto tarmac upon impact and still strapped into seat.
I knew the fuselage wasn't as sturdy as a fire truck but just by sheer size and force a plane hitting a truck would have caused carnage as well to the occupants. But it sounds like it didn't hit the truck dead on.
 
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xmontrealer

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May 23, 2005
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If I was that controller I'd just shrug it off. Human errors can happen and about 150K people die each day around the globe. Maybe I'd have a good cry for 2 mins then brush it off.
Yeah I don't think about people who die that I don't personally know, unless they make the general news, or their death seems tragic for whatever reason.

And like you, they don't stick around in my mind for very long.

But if I was responsible for the accidental death of anybody, it would stay with me for a very long time...
 
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K Douglas

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If I was that controller I'd just shrug it off. Human errors can happen and about 150K people die each day around the globe. Maybe I'd have a good cry for 2 mins then brush it off.
The controller will be put on leave to figure out why he made such an egregious mistake. Not easy to just shrug it off.
 

GameBoy27

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Nov 23, 2004
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The taxiway and the runway were not at right angles; the plane was coming from behind and on the opposite side of the truck driver. This would have made it easy for the truck driver not to see.
Which is why it makes sense to have emergency stop and look before they enter a runway. Also, why did the fire truck not respond to ATC instructing them to stop, stop stop, stop?
 

jalimon

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Jan 10, 2016
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Which is why it makes sense to have emergency stop and look before they enter a runway. Also, why did the fire truck not respond to ATC instructing them to stop, stop stop, stop?
I think you point out a change to come in the guidelines...

There must be a way to have roads for land crews to avoid crossing main landing and departing runways? I am not talking about all the taxi ways, just the main runways, most airports have only 2 or 3, often only 1.
 
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