Travelers learn of tragedy

Marco Alcantara, 25, of Chicago, said he was aboard the 9 p.m. United Airways flight that a Port Authority emergency vehicle was responding to for what was described as a suspicious odor.

The Port Authority fire truck collided with the Air Canada Express jet on the runway, killing two pilots and injuring dozens.

Alcantara’s plane was about to take off but was instead evacuated.

Alcantara said they were off the plane and waiting at a gate when he learned of the incident.

People were frustrated at first to learn of their flights being cancelled, but the tone of the airport became more serious once they learned of the fatalities.

“It’s kind of, it's creepy … it's surreal that you're going through this,” he told Newsday while lying on the floor of Terminal B. “It’s a little scary.”

Alcantara said he and his friend spent the night in Terminal B. Their flight to Chicago had been rescheduled for Monday afternoon, he said.