NEW YORK — Newly reported details are shedding light on the severity of the fatal runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, including accounts of a flight attendant being ejected from the aircraft during the impact.

According to multiple sources familiar with the scene, one flight attendant aboard the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 was found outside the aircraft following the crash, still secured in her jumpseat.

The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, had just arrived from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board.

The CRJ-900 typically operates with two flight attendants—one positioned at the front of the aircraft and one at the rear.

Based on preliminary observations, the forward section of the aircraft sustained catastrophic damage when it collided with a rescue and firefighting vehicle on the runway.

Authorities confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the impact, which reportedly sheared off the nose of the aircraft.

Investigators believe the violent deceleration and structural damage may have contributed to the forward flight attendant being ejected from the aircraft while still strapped into her seat.

The second flight attendant, positioned toward the rear of the aircraft, is believed to have remained onboard and would have assumed responsibility for assisting passengers in the immediate aftermath.

Air traffic control audio has revealed the chaotic moments leading up to the collision.

Controllers can be heard urgently attempting to halt the movement of the emergency vehicle, repeatedly issuing commands to stop as both the aircraft and truck entered the same runway path.

The vehicle had reportedly been cleared to cross the runway while responding to a separate in-flight emergency involving another aircraft.

Following the collision, emergency crews rushed to the scene. Dozens of passengers and crew members were evaluated, with multiple individuals transported to area hospitals for treatment.

Several remained hospitalized following the incident, while injuries were also reported among first responders.

In the aftermath, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground stop at the airport as authorities secured the scene and initiated a full investigation.

In a statement, Doug Clarke, president of Jazz Aviation, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased pilots and support for those injured, emphasizing the company’s full cooperation with investigators.

The incident has raised serious concerns about runway safety procedures, coordination during emergency responses, and the operational pressures faced by air traffic controllers in rapidly evolving situations.

The investigation remains ongoing as federal authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events and contributing factors behind the collision.