A late-night crash on the Long Island Expressway in Queens left two people dead and roughly 20 others injured after a coach bus flipped across the median and into oncoming traffic.
The wreck happened just before midnight Monday near the Greenpoint Avenue exit in Maspeth.
Police say a westbound charter bus first hit two vehicles before slamming into the center divider. The impact sent the bus rolling into the eastbound lanes, where it struck two more cars.
The bus was carrying flight crew members from Royal Jordanian Flight 8261, which had landed at JFK from Amman, Jordan, earlier that night.
Fifteen crew members, including two flight attendants from Thailand, were riding to their hotel when the crash occurred.
Driver and Passenger Among the Dead
Both the bus driver and a passenger died at the scene. The passenger has been identified as 42-year-old Moad Farid Mohd Obaidat of New York City.
One driver from a car struck in the eastbound lanes was hospitalized in critical condition, while three other drivers involved were listed as stable.
Around two dozen passengers from the bus were taken to Bellevue Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, and Elmhurst Hospital Center for evaluation.
Reports indicate the bus driver had a lengthy criminal history, including past arrests connected to burglary and sexual offenses, and was classified as a registered sex offender.
His driving record showed several past violations, including speeding and reckless driving citations, though none occurred while he worked as a professional driver. His employer has not responded to requests for comment.
Federal Investigators Now Involved
Royal Jordanian Airlines said it is still gathering details and is working with authorities to understand what happened. The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation alongside the NYPD.
Emergency crews, including close to 80 fire and rescue personnel, responded to the scene. The crash shut down both directions of the expressway near 50th Street for several hours as investigators worked to clear the wreckage. All lanes have since reopened.
The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and officials say the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not released the identity of the bus driver pending family notification.
