LaGuardia crash recap: Passengers, victims, investigation latest

What we know:

QUEENS - New details continue to emerge following the deadly LaGuardia Airport crash that killed two pilots and injured more than 40 people, as investigators work to determine what went wrong and travelers face ongoing disruptions.

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LaGuardia crash: what happened

What we know:

The crash happened just before midnight Sunday when Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 after arriving from Montreal.

Investigators say the emergency vehicle had been cleared to cross the runway to check on another aircraft reporting an odor when the collision occurred.

Debris from both the plane and the fire truck remains scattered across Runway 4, which is expected to stay closed for days as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation.

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Officials say the NTSB has recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, with the cockpit voice recorder confirmed to be undamaged. Investigators are expected to analyze those recordings as they look into factors including air traffic controller workload and communication.

Authorities caution the investigation could take months, if not longer, to determine an exact cause.

How many people died in the LaGuardia crash

Two pilots were killed in the crash. Federal officials described them as "two young men at the start of their careers."

One of the pilots has been identified as Antoine Forrest, a 30-year-old from Quebec. A relative told the Toronto Star he learned English to improve his chances of becoming a pilot and began flying at just 16 years old.

In total, 72 passengers and four crew members were on board the aircraft.

More than 40 people were injured. Four suffered serious injuries, according to fire officials.

Victims, passengers describe chaos after crash

Passengers continue to share harrowing accounts of the moments after impact.

Rachel Mariotti, who was seated in an exit row, described the confusion and urgency as passengers tried to escape.

"I looked out the window to see if like we were going to tilt over or roll over. I didn't know what was going to happen," she said. "And fortunately we stopped."

Mariotti said she helped open the exit and assist others off the plane.

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"I propped the door up against the seat so people can get through to jump on the wing," she said. "I looked around and a lot of people had scrapes, bumps on their head, a lot of blood. It was surreal. It felt like we were in a movie."

She also praised the pilots’ actions in the final moments.

"I just want to say thank you to the pilots. I mean, I think they did the right thing. And, you know, I'm very sorry for their families."

A flight attendant, who was ejected from a passenger plane at LaGuardia Airport, has survived, her daughter said Monday.

Meanwhile, the two Port Authority officers inside the fire truck — Officer Adrian Baez and Sergeant Michael Orcio — survived the crash and are expected to recover. 

Officials say both are being released from the hospital.

LGA TSA wait times, delays after crash

While LaGuardia Airport has since reopened, disruptions continue across the region.

Runway 4 remains closed, which could impact flight schedules for days as the investigation continues.

Officials warn travelers to expect delays and cancellations and to plan ahead.

At the same time, TSA wait times at JFK and Newark were unavailable Monday as lines grew longer, adding to frustration for travelers navigating ongoing delays.

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Investigation continues into LaGuardia crash

What's next:

The NTSB is leading the investigation, with additional updates expected as more evidence is reviewed, including cockpit recordings and air traffic control communications.

Officials emphasize that all information remains preliminary and subject to change as investigators work to piece together exactly what led to the deadly runway collision.

Air and Space