An Air Canada plane crashed at LaGuardia airport on Sunday.AP Photo/Ryan Murphy
Two pilots are dead and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada aircraft collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, triggering a major emergency response and forcing the temporary closure of the airport.
Authorities confirmed that the Air Canada Express flight, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, struck a Port Authority rescue and firefighting truck shortly after landing on the runway.
The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the incident. Officials said 41 individuals were transported to hospital, including 39 passengers and two officers who were inside the fire truck. The injured are reported to be in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.
New York Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed the deaths of the two pilots, describing the incident as a “tragic loss” as investigations get underway.
Preliminary information indicates the fire truck had been responding to a separate aircraft reporting an onboard odor issue when it entered the runway. Audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there may have been a miscommunication, with a controller heard urgently instructing the vehicle to stop moments before impact.
The collision prompted an immediate ground stop at LaGuardia, with the airport remaining closed until at least 2:00 p.m. Monday.
Nearly 600 flights were cancelled, causing widespread disruption for travelers.
So sad. you land safe and feel all is well and then this
As a person in aviation, there are markings on the airside that separate the vehicles from driving in the way of the aircraft. Beyond that, as I’ve seen vehicles stand up while aircrafts are in motion. The firefighters should give full report as to how this incident happened.
So if Air Canada is not transporting drugs to Antigua, they are involved in crashes on the international border. Hmm. Condolences to the family of the pilots
I can’t even imagine what the families of the pilots are going through right now. Two lives lost and so many injured because of a runway miscommunication? This is just devastating. Aviation safety protocols need to be airtight.
Tragic loss of the two pilots. Reading about miscommunications with ATC makes me realize how fast things can go wrong in aviation. Everyone at the airport must be on the same page in emergencies.