A bus carrying a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight crew collided with two other vehicles and overturned on the Long Island Expressway late Monday night, killing two people and injuring nearly 20 others. The crash occurred around 11:45 p.m. near Exit 16 for Greenpoint Avenue.
The bus was transporting 15 crew members from Royal Jordanian Airlines flight RJ826 from John F. Kennedy Airport to hotel accommodations when the collision happened. The driver of the bus, a 35-year-old male, and an unidentified passenger, confirmed to be a Royal Jordanian crew member, were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the airline and the NYPD, the bus smashed into two vehicles before flipping over into oncoming eastbound traffic and crashing into two additional cars. Officials stated that the operator of another vehicle involved in the crash and an unidentified individual were transported to the hospital in critical condition. In total, 17 other individuals sustained minor injuries.
Royal Jordanian confirmed in a statement that one crew member died in the incident, while the remaining injured personnel were in stable condition and receiving medical care. The airline expressed its condolences to the deceased's family and wished the injured a swift recovery.
The crash significantly damaged the median barrier and led to the closure of the expressway in both directions, causing extensive traffic delays for hours. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.