Two pilots have been killed and dozens of passengers injured after an Air Canada aircraft collided with a ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, according to Antigua.news. The incident triggered a major emergency response and forced the temporary closure of one of the United States' busiest airports.
Authorities confirmed that the Air Canada Express flight — a CRJ-900 regional jet 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 collision. Officials said 41 individuals were subsequently transported to hospital, including 39 passengers and two officers who had been inside the fire truck. The injured are reported to be in stable condition, with no life-threatening injuries recorded.
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 odour 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 the impact occurred.
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 as a result, causing widespread disruption for travellers across the region.
