A devastating collision at New York's LaGuardia airport has claimed the lives of two pilots and left dozens injured, after an Air Canada Express regional jet struck a fire truck while landing late on Sunday. The incident forced the immediate closure of the airport, causing significant disruptions to air travel in the region.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by its partner Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board. According to preliminary reports from NBC News, the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. The fire truck involved was reportedly being operated by police officers, with a sergeant and an officer sustaining broken limbs; they are currently in stable condition at a local hospital.
Impact on Airport Operations
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that LaGuardia airport is expected to remain closed until 2 p.m. on Monday. Flightradar24 data indicates that 18 flights have been diverted to other airports in the New York area or returned to their points of origin. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey clarified that the firefighting vehicle was responding to a separate incident at the airport when it was struck by the aircraft on runway 4.
Photos taken by Reuters after the accident reveal visible damage to the nose of the plane, which was tilted upward. The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 recorded the aircraft traveling at approximately 24 mph at the time of the collision, with the last data point logged at 11:37 p.m.
Response and Investigation
Authorities and emergency agencies have not provided immediate comments on the fatalities or injuries. Air Canada has referred inquiries to Jazz Aviation's statement, confirming awareness of the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA have yet to respond to requests for comment as investigations into the cause of the collision are underway.
New York City's emergency notification system has warned residents to anticipate cancellations, road closures, traffic delays, and increased emergency personnel presence near the airport. This tragic event underscores ongoing safety concerns in aviation and emergency response protocols at major hubs like LaGuardia.
