'Miracle': Flight attendant still strapped to seat after being thrown 320ft during Air Canada crash

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A flight attendant survived the deadly Air Canada plane crash despite being thrown more than 320 feet from the aircraft. The incident happened on the runway of the LaGuardia Airport in New York City after a Jazz Aviation flight operated on behalf of Air Canada Express hit a firetruck on Sunday, March 22, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

Solange Tremblay was also on the same fateful flight but despite being ejected from the plane, she “was still strapped into her seat.” Her daughter Sarah Lépine spoke with Quebec’s TVA News, as reported by PEOPLE, and said, “It’s a complete miracle.” 

Flight attendant's daughter believes her mother was being watched over by 'a guardian angel'

“At the moment of impact, her seat was ejected more than 100 meters from the plane,” Lépine shared.

“They found her and she was still strapped into her seat. She had a guardian angel watching over her. It could have been much worse,” she added.

Tremblay has, however, suffered multiple bone fractures and is currently in a hospital for a broken leg. She will be operated on soon.

The airport in a statement said that “emergency response protocols were immediately activated” after the accident and it will remain “closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”

41 people injured in the Air Canada Express plane crash

The crash happened when the flight landed on runway 4 and struck an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle that was “responding to a separate incident.”

An audio from air traffic control revealed that the firetruck was given the permission to move ahead by a controller before another controller shouted, “Stop, stop, stop, stop, truck 1, stop, stop, stop. Stop, truck 1, stop!”

But it’s not clear how the truck replied moments before the crash. Later, a Port Authority spokesperson shared, “The pilot and co-pilot of the Jazz Aviation flight were pronounced deceased. Additionally, 41 people were transported to the hospital, 39 people on the aircraft and two ARFF officers.”

Air Canada says they're cooperating in the investigation

Air Canada also issued a statement in the aftermath of the deadly collision. It said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families. Air Canada cannot confirm the exact number of injuries or if there are other fatalities at this time.”

“Air Canada and Jazz Aviation are cooperating with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States in the investigation of the cause of this incident. Family and friends who need information about passengers on Air Canada Express flight AC8646 may telephone Air Canada at 1-800-961-7099,” the statement added.