Over a week after a fatal runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport claimed the lives of two pilots, Dancing With the Stars alum Charlotte Jørgensen has revealed she was among the surviving passengers.
Taking to Instagram, the professional dancer opened up about her harrowing experience aboard Air Canada Flight 8646, which struck a Port Authority firetruck on the runway on the evening of March 22. In an emotional message, Jørgensen credited the aircraft's crew for saving the lives of the 72 passengers onboard.
"They made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all could live," Jørgensen wrote in her March 29 post. "I am indebted to them and my thoughts are with their families."
The flight had just touched down from Montreal when the deadly runway collision occurred. While the passengers survived the initial ordeal, the catastrophic accident tragically killed Air Canada pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, and left 41 individuals injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the specific air traffic control failures that precipitated the crash.
For Jørgensen, who famously finished as the runner-up alongside John O’Hurley in the inaugural season of DWTS, the aftermath of the crash has been a heavy burden. Acknowledging the profound toll the event has taken, the 54-year-old explained that the past week has been "tough—physically, mentally and emotionally."
"I will be taking time to heal," she told her followers. "I am grateful for all the love I have received and I send you all an extra warm hug."
Jørgensen’s immense gratitude for the fallen pilots has been echoed by other survivors of Flight 8646. Fellow passenger Rebecca Liquori recently recounted to NBC News that she felt the plane brake aggressively moments before impact, indicating the flight crew was desperately trying to mitigate the disaster.
"I’m just so appreciative that they were able to save us, but I’m just so sad that they weren’t able to make it home to their families," Liquori shared. "I wouldn’t be here had it not been for the pilot acting quickly."