A pilot and co-pilot were killed after an Air Canada Express passenger plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night.
The incoming flight, operated by regional carrier Jazz Aviation, collided with the fire engine on Runway 4 at approximately 11:38 pm local time. According to media reports, at least 13 people were injured in the incident, including two police officers who were manning the fire truck.
Several videos capturing the aftermath have circulated on social media, showing emergency rescue operations and significant damage to the nose of the aircraft. The footage depicts the front of the commuter plane smashed and tilting upwards as passengers were evacuated from the vehicle.
Emergency response and runway collision
The incident occurred as the Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, which had departed from Montreal, was landing in New York City’s Queens borough. Flight tracking data indicated the plane struck the Port Authority vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour (39 kph).
The fire truck involved was reportedly cleared to cross the runway to respond to a separate emergency involving another flight. A sergeant and an officer on the truck sustained broken limbs and are currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
At the time of the collision, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Reports suggest the passengers included a group of Orthodox Jews from the New York area. All occupants were being evaluated by medical personnel following the evacuation.
Ground stop and airport closure
Following the crash, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an immediate ground stop for all aircraft at LaGuardia Airport. The regulator cited an emergency as the reason for the halt and noted a high probability of an extended closure.
The airport’s official website confirmed that all arriving flights have been either diverted to other regional airports or returned to their original points of departure. Authorities indicated that the facility could remain shut until at least 1800 GMT today.
While investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA begin their work, official details regarding the full extent of the damage and the exact cause of the coordination failure remain under review.
