New York — All but four passengers were injured on Sunday Fatal collision The Canadian airline announced on Wednesday that the plane was removed from the hospital between an Air Canada plane and a fire engine, as the crew began moving the mangled plane from the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
The incident is still under investigation Two pilots were killed. Nearly 40 people were treated in area hospitals for a range of injuries, some serious. No further details were immediately available about the four people who remain in hospital.
The plane, which took off from Montreal, was carrying 76 people, including the crew, when it collided with the fire engine that was heading to the runway. Seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller Clear the truck to cross the runway.
Since Monday, much of the plane’s wreckage has remained on the runway, preventing access to one of the two runways at one of the country’s busiest airports.
Before five o’clock on Wednesday evening, airport workers began removing the remains. Two large tow trucks working side by side also repaired the badly damaged fire engine, which had been lying on its side since the accident.
The tail of the plane was hoisted onto a large trolley, then pulled along long ropes by two vehicles traveling side by side. Earlier in the day, crews cut away a large portion of the nose debris, which was obliterated in the impact. While towed, the middle of the plane was supported by its landing gear, which appeared to be intact.
Air Canada said in a statement that the plane will be moved to the hangar. The airline said it will soon begin the process of reuniting people with their luggage and personal belongings.
After the collision, many of those on board were able to do so Escape from the damaged planeincluding A flight attendant Who survived after being thrown onto the runway while still strapped into her seat.
The pilots were identified Mackenzie Gunter and Antoine Forrest. At least one passenger, Clément Lelièvre, credited their “incredible reactions” with saving his life and the lives of others, noting that they applied the brakes very hard as soon as the plane landed.
Two Port Authority Police Department firefighters in the truck survived.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that there were 76 people on board, not 70.