“DWTS” pro Charlotte Jørgensen shares survival story from Air Canada crash: 'I owe my life to two brave souls'
“DWTS” pro Charlotte Jørgensen shares survival story from Air Canada crash: 'I owe my life to two brave souls'
Leigh BlickleyMon, March 30, 2026 at 6:01 PM UTC
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Charlotte Jorgensen on 'Dancing With the Stars'Credit: Adam Larkey/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Former Dancing With the Stars pro Charlotte Jørgensen was on board the Air Canada flight from Montreal to New York City that crashed on the runway last week.
In an Instagram post featuring a photo from the scene of the collision, Jørgensen wrote, "A week ago tonight, after a fabulous weekend in Montreal, I boarded Air Canada 8646 bound for La Guardia NYC. By now, probably most of you have heard of the collision that happened with a firetruck on the runway."
On March 22, pilot Antoine Forest and co-pilot Mackenzie Gunther were killed when their arriving jet, carrying 72 passengers, struck a Port Authority vehicle at LaGuardia Airport. A flight attendant, still belted to her seat, was thrown more than 300 feet and 41 people were taken to the hospital with injuries, some seriously.
"I owe my life to two brave souls Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther - they made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all could live…. I am indebted to them and my thoughts are with their families," Jørgensen shared.
The Danish ballroom dancer went on to say that although she only felt adrenaline rushing through her body on the night of the accident, she has faced "physically, mentally and emotionally" tough moments since then.
"I 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 shared. "Thank you to my @dancingwiththestars family for your care and concern."
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Jørgensen appeared on the first season of DWTS in 2005. She was partnered with John O'Hurley and they placed second behind Kelly Monaco and Alec Mazo. However, due to controversy surrounding rumors of pre-determined voting, a special rematch episode was held and O'Hurley and Jørgensen were named the new champions. (DWTS has never repeated the rematch format.)
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[When I won the dance-off], all was right with the world," O'Hurley told Entertainment Weekly in a 2025 look back at the season. "It's very funny that great moments in your life are always quiet things. When I won that, all of a sudden it just became very personal and very quiet. It wasn't something you could run around and jump in the air. I just went, 'Wow.' And I remember saying that to Tom [Bergeron, former host]. I said, 'You know me as never being shy for words. It's a quiet moment right now.'"
In a 2017 interview with Dance Dish, Jørgensen said she enjoyed her brief stint on DWTS.
"It was a great time and a tense time," she admitted. "It was a lot of hard work with great rewards. I am happy to be a part of what started it all up."
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
