00:00While the facts of what happened last night at 11.45 p.m. were well known, yes, it was an
00:06aviation disaster, the likes of which we have not seen here in over three decades, but it's a deeply human
00:12story where two young pilots left their homes expecting a return to their families, and they will not.
00:20And this is what pains everyone here in the state of New York. I've conveyed our condolences to the Canadian
00:26government. I have walked the halls and gone up to Port Authority personnel and police, telling them how grateful we
00:34are that they put their lives out there every single day to make sure our traveling public is safe.
00:39So to the entire Port Authority and LaGuardia family, I want you to know we are very cognizant of the
00:46traumatizing impact this has on you and indeed your own families.
00:50So I want to first convey my gratitude to all of you and sympathies to those who have had their
00:57lives shattered as a result of this and those who have sustained injuries.
01:00It's not what you expect when you get on an airplane, but also I want to offer the full cooperation
01:07of New York State with the investigation.
01:09I'm grateful also to Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford for coming right here on this day.
01:14It's important to have your presence to know that this will be addressed at the highest levels and also support
01:19from the mayor who represents many of the people who work here as I do.
01:24And Catherine Garcia, up until a short time ago, she was my top state operations officer in charge of every
01:32disaster, every crisis that has befallen the state of New York in the last four years.
01:36So she is a top consummate professional and I have great confidence in her ability as well.
01:42So let me close with this.
01:45Let's acknowledge the tremendous stress, particularly in recent days, that our airline workers are under.
01:51And as we come through here, know that this is an ecosystem which is not self-sustaining.
01:58There are countless individuals who step up every day willing to do the hard work to make sure we're safe.
02:03And in my judgment, they all deserve gratitude, not just on this day, but as I often do walking through
02:08airports, just saying thank you with a heart full of gratitude for what they do to make our lives safer
02:14and better.
02:16For a different time.
02:19So moments ago, I had a chance to speak to President Trump after he finished his press conference in in
02:29Memphis.
02:29Also spoke with the transport minister of Canada, Stephen McKinnon.
02:35And again, our two teams work very closely together.
02:39I want to take a moment and just walk through the facts again of what happened.
02:43There was a CJR 900 from Montreal here to LaGuardia, operated by Air Canada Express and by Jazz.
02:55It collided with a Port Authority fire truck at approximately 11.45 p.m. last night.
03:01There were 72 passengers on the plane and four crew.
03:07Approximately 40 people were sent to the hospital after the crash.
03:13Several have also been released.
03:16As has been reported, the two pilots of the aircraft passed away in the crash last night.
03:22I do want to note that we send our deepest condolences to their families as they're going through, no doubt,
03:31a grieving process.
03:33There were two individuals in the fire truck.
03:37They, too, were sent to the hospital after the crash.
03:42Now, there's going to be a lot of questions I know about what do we know at this time.
03:48And what we are going to do is give you the information that we can.
03:54We all have the respect for the NTSB.
03:56The NTSB goes through a thorough investigation.
04:00And we are conscious about the information and the facts that we give you because we want that information to
04:06be accurate.
04:07There's some information that we hold back that the NTSB has that we allow them to do the investigation.
04:14And it takes months, sometimes up to a year, before we get the findings of that investigation.
04:19But NTSB is on the ground at the airport.
04:23The FAA is on the ground.
04:25Over ten people from the FAA are here.
04:28As well as Transport Canada is sending a team to LaGuardia as well.
04:33Our two countries work very well together.
04:35There's a well-worn path where we collaborate together when there's aviation crashes in either of our countries.
04:44The Administrator and I were at the crash site earlier today, which is easily visible from the airport.
04:51And it is incredibly sad.
04:55It's troubling.
04:57And I just want to let America know that we are working our hearts off to make sure that when
05:06people travel,
05:07whether by rail or car or by air, that they travel safely.
05:13And we put in precautions and policies to make sure that you are safe when you travel.
05:20When I was at the crash site, it was just a reminder that when you're traveling by air, you should
05:26wear your seatbelt.
05:27If you see the videos of the air crash, wear your seatbelt when you're on the airplane.
05:32Also in a car, wear a seatbelt.
05:35As you see from last night, they do save lives.
05:39I'd also note that as of now, LaGuardia is open.
05:42There is a reduced capacity because the aircraft and the fire truck are still in their positions from last night.
05:53So we are going to have reduced capacity for some time.
05:56But the airport is operational.
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06:10Bye.
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