Just over a week after an Air Canada passenger jet crashed into a firetruck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 22, killing Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, a former Dancing with the Stars alum is opening up about her experience. Charlotte Jørgensen, a professional dancer from the show’s first season, shared her story on Instagram.
In her post, Jørgensen said she was returning from a “fabulous weekend in Montreal” on Air Canada Flight 8646. Acknowledging that most people had probably heard about the crash, she credited her survival to “two brave souls,” Forest and Gunther, to whom she said she owes her life.
“They made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all could live…. I am indebted to them, and my thoughts are with their families🙇♀️🙇♀️🙇♀️,” Jørgensen continued.
A post shared by Charlotte Jorgensen (@its_charlottejorgensen)
Jørgensen shared that on the night of the crash, she “felt nothing as adrenaline was rushing through my body.” However, in the days that followed, the reality of the situation began to set in. “The days after [have] been tough – physically, mentally, and emotionally,” she wrote.
Jørgensen shared that she is now at home being cared for by loved ones and “will be taking time to heal.”
“I am grateful for all the love I have received, and I send you all an extra warm hug🫂🙏❤️,” she added.
Jørgensen also thanked her Dancing with the Stars family for their “care and concern.”
Of course, fans rallied behind the dancer in the comments section of the heartfelt post.
“Charlotte, I’m so happy you are safe, and what a heartfelt gesture of gratitude from someone actually there. These two men are heroes,” one top comment read. “Thank you for writing this and giving tribute to Antione and MacKenzie as well. May you heal from this horrific ordeal. One step at a time,” another fan offered.
“Those gentlemen made a difficult decision in a split second. And saved everyone else on that plane,” a third onlooker wrote.
The CRJ-900 aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Following the crash, 39 people from the plane and two officers from a firetruck were hospitalized. The firetruck had been responding to reports of an unknown odor in the cockpit of another aircraft when the incident occurred. Most of those hospitalized have since been released.