Royal Jordanian Flight RJ261 Amman–New York JFK Crew Horror Unfolds in Deadly Multi-Vehicle Crash on Long Island Expressway Near Queens-Midtown Tunnel in New York City, Killing Two and Injuring Dozens After Midnight Shuttle Tragedy

New York City, United States, became the centre of a major aviation-linked tragedy on Monday night, June 29, 2026, after a fatal multi-vehicle collision on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) near the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in Queens. The incident involved a charter shuttle transporting Royal Jordanian Airlines crew members who had just completed long-haul operations on Royal Jordanian Flight RJ261, operating the Amman (Queen Alia International Airport) to New York JFK route.

The crash unfolded around 11:45 p.m. local time near the Greenpoint Avenue exit in Maspeth, Queens. The crew had landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport at approximately 9:45 p.m. after an 11-hour transatlantic flight from Amman, Jordan, and were en route to their scheduled layover accommodation in Midtown Manhattan when the collision occurred. The sequence of events resulted in two confirmed fatalities and more than two dozen injuries, triggering a large-scale emergency response across one of New York’s busiest transport corridors.

High-Speed Chain Collision on Long Island Expressway Near Queens-Midtown Tunnel Entrance

The crash began on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway, a critical artery connecting Long Island traffic into Queens and Manhattan. Initial findings confirm that the charter shuttle bus first collided with two separate vehicles while travelling westbound.

Following the initial impact, the vehicle struck the centre divider with significant force. The impact caused a loss of control, resulting in the bus overturning and crossing the concrete median barrier into oncoming eastbound traffic. This secondary trajectory led to additional collisions involving two more vehicles, creating a multi-lane impact scenario across both directions of the expressway.

The proximity of the crash to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel entrance intensified traffic disruption, as emergency units were forced to secure both eastbound and westbound lanes. The scale and complexity of the incident required coordinated response from fire rescue teams, police units, and paramedics operating under mass casualty protocols.

Fatalities Confirmed and Dozens Injured Across Major New York Hospitals

Authorities confirmed two fatalities at the crash site. The deceased include the shuttle bus driver and one Royal Jordanian flight attendant who was among the crew passengers travelling from JFK Airport.

More than twenty additional individuals sustained injuries of varying severity. Emergency medical teams transported victims to multiple major trauma hospitals across New York City, including Bellevue Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, and Elmhurst Hospital Center. These facilities activated emergency intake procedures due to the sudden influx of patients and the nature of high-impact trauma injuries reported from the scene. Several Royal Jordanian crew members survived the collision and remain under medical observation, with their conditions described as stable following initial treatment.

Royal Jordanian Flight RJ261 Amman–JFK Operation and Crew Movement Timeline

The affected crew had completed Royal Jordanian Flight RJ261, a scheduled long-haul service operating between Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, Jordan, and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City.

The service, operated under a delayed rotation designation RJ8261 for this specific sector, is typically flown using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner configured for long-haul international operations. The flight duration is approximately 11 hours, connecting the Middle East with one of the United States’ primary intercontinental gateways.

On June 29, 2026, the flight experienced a departure delay of around five hours before operating the Amman–New York sector. The aircraft landed safely at JFK at approximately 9:45 p.m. local time. After completing immigration and arrival procedures, the crew boarded a contracted charter shuttle service arranged for transport to their layover hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The fatal collision occurred approximately two hours after landing, during the final stage of the airport-to-hotel transfer process.

Crew Composition and Airline Confirmation from Amman Headquarters

A total of 15 Royal Jordanian crew members were present on the shuttle bus at the time of the crash, including two Thai national flight attendants as part of the international cabin crew roster assigned to the flight.

Royal Jordanian Airlines issued an official confirmation from its headquarters in Amman following the incident. The airline acknowledged the loss of one crew member and the shuttle driver, while confirming that the remaining crew members survived and are currently receiving medical evaluations and treatment in New York hospitals.

The airline has maintained coordination with local authorities in New York City, as well as aviation and ground transport stakeholders, to support ongoing medical care and investigation procedures.

Investigation Focus on Driver History, Mechanical Condition, and Crash Trigger Factors

New York Police Department and transportation safety investigators have launched a detailed inquiry into the cause of the collision. Early background assessments of the shuttle bus driver revealed a history of traffic-related violations, including prior citations for speeding, disobeying traffic control devices, and unsafe driving conduct.

Investigators are examining whether driver behaviour, mechanical failure, road conditions, or a combination of contributing factors led to the initial westbound collision. The severity of the vehicle’s movement across the median into oncoming traffic is also a key focus of reconstruction analysis. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage, vehicle data records, and eyewitness accounts to establish a precise timeline of the crash sequence near the Queens-Midtown Tunnel approach.

Major Disruption Along One of New York City’s Critical Transport Corridors

The Long Island Expressway near Maspeth and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel entrance is one of New York City’s most heavily utilised transport corridors, serving both commuter and airport-related traffic. The crash caused extended disruption in both directions, with significant traffic congestion during overnight hours.

Emergency response operations required partial closure of the expressway while rescue teams managed casualties and cleared multiple damaged vehicles. The incident also affected connectivity between Queens and Midtown Manhattan, a key corridor for airport shuttle services and commuter transit.

Ongoing Multi-Agency Review of Aviation Ground Transfer Safety Protocols

The involvement of an international airline crew arriving from a long-haul intercontinental flight has placed additional focus on airport ground transport safety standards. Coordination between aviation authorities, transport regulators, and emergency management agencies continues as part of the ongoing investigation.

Attention is expected to remain on contractual shuttle operations, driver vetting systems, and operational safety frameworks governing airport-to-hotel transfers for international crew movements in major global hubs such as New York City.

Image: Royal Jordanian