A professional ballroom dancer who competed on the first season of “Dancing with the Stars” has revealed she survived the deadly Air Canada plane crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed two pilots and injured dozens.
Charlotte Jørgensen, 54, who performed alongside John O’Hurley during the reality competition show’s inaugural season, shared the harrowing experience in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, March 29—more than a week after Air Canada Flight 8646 crashed into a firetruck on the runway at the New York airport.
Jørgensen wrote that she boarded the flight after “a fabulous weekend in Montreal” and credited the two pilots with saving her life. She expressed deep gratitude to Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, saying they “made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all could live.”
The crash occurred on March 22 when the CRJ-900 aircraft carrying 72 passengers and four crew members struck a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 as the plane was landing. The collision marked the first fatal accident at LaGuardia Airport in 34 years—the last occurring on the same date in 1992, when USAir Flight 405 crashed during takeoff and killed 27 people.
The firetruck had been responding to reports of an odor aboard an unrelated United Airlines flight when the collision occurred. According to the NTSB, the fire truck was not equipped with a transponder to help air traffic controllers identify its precise location. The jet struck the vehicle at more than 100 miles per hour, demolishing the aircraft’s cockpit and forward galley sections.
Both pilots died on impact. Forty-one people—including passengers, crew members, and two Port Authority officers aboard the firetruck—were transported to hospitals. Thirty-two were released shortly afterward, while nine sustained serious injuries and remained hospitalized. Two flight attendants were among the injured; one was ejected from the aircraft while still strapped to her seat.
U.S.-based aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse said it was “miraculous” that more passengers didn’t perish, given the severity of the crash.
The professional dancer revealed that while shock and adrenaline protected her immediately after the crash, the aftermath has been difficult. “On the night I felt nothing as adrenaline was rushing through my body, but the days after has been tough—physically, mentally, and emotionally,” she wrote.
Jørgensen told followers she is now recovering at home with her husband Nelson and daughter Vivianna caring for her. She thanked fans and her “Dancing with the Stars” family for their support during this difficult time.
Lisa O’Hurley, wife of Jørgensen’s former dance partner John O’Hurley, commented on the post expressing relief. She noted that her son Will is now a pilot, making the tragedy hit especially hard for her family.
Jørgensen appeared on the inaugural season of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2005, partnering with actor John O’Hurley, best known for playing J. Peterman on “Seinfeld.” The pair finished as runners-up but later won a special “rematch” episode after fans alleged the original voting was unfair. They also appeared together at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards that year. Jørgensen returned to the ballroom for the show’s “20th Birthday Party” episode in November 2025, dancing in the opening number alongside fellow season one pros.
The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford described Forest and Gunther as “two young men at the start of their careers,” calling their deaths “an absolute tragedy.” President Trump called the crash “terrible” and referred to the aviation industry as “a dangerous business.”
Investigators are examining flight data recorders, surveillance video, and air traffic control communications to determine exactly what led to the collision. The NTSB has raised concerns about staffing procedures, noting that one controller was handling multiple positions at the time of the crash. Audio recordings captured a controller appearing to blame himself minutes after the collision, telling a witness pilot, “I messed up.”
Passengers on the flight have praised the pilots’ final actions. One survivor told media the pilot “hit the brakes as hard as he could” upon seeing the firetruck. Despite the catastrophic damage to the aircraft, the vast majority of people on board survived.
Two Port Authority officers aboard the struck firetruck suffered broken bones and were transported to hospitals in critical but non-life-threatening condition.
As Jørgensen begins recovery from the trauma—both physical and emotional—she asked for understanding from fans and the media. The dancer indicated she would be taking an extended break to focus on healing, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support she has received.
The incident marks the most serious aviation accident at LaGuardia Airport in more than three decades and has intensified scrutiny of runway safety protocols and air traffic control staffing at one of the nation’s busiest airports.