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Two Dead, Dozens Injured After Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia
Two people were killed and several others seriously injured when an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, according to officials.
The pilot and copilot, both based in Canada, died in the collision, which crushed the nose of the aircraft. Around 40 passengers and crew members were taken to area hospitals with various injuries, though most have since been released, authorities confirmed Monday.
Two Port Authority employees who were in the fire truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.
Radio transmissions revealed that moments before the crash, an air traffic controller gave clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then frantically attempted to stop it. “Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” the controller said before diverting an incoming aircraft from landing.
The fire truck was responding to a separate incident aboard a United Airlines flight whose pilot had reported “an issue with odor,” Garcia explained. She deferred additional questions about the sequence of events to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation.
LaGuardia Airport was shut down immediately following the incident, with operations expected to remain halted until at least 2 p.m. Monday. The closure has created significant disruptions during the already busy spring break travel season, compounded by staffing shortages at TSA checkpoints due to irregular funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
In a seemingly unrelated incident, operations at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were also temporarily suspended Monday morning after air traffic controllers evacuated the tower because of a burning smell from an elevator, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Two pilots were killed and dozens injured in this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted online.
The ill-fated aircraft was a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. It had originated from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit.
Passenger Arturo Davidson, whose Miami-bound flight was on the tarmac when the collision occurred, described how reactions rippled through the cabin as fellow travelers witnessed the aftermath. Passengers were initially told there had been an accident, and about 20 minutes later were informed that the airport was closing and they needed to return to the terminal.
LaGuardia is one of the nation’s busiest airports, ranking 19th out of more than 500 U.S. airports in 2024 with over 16.7 million passenger boardings. Opened to commercial traffic in 1939, it covers 680 acres bordering Flushing and Bowery bays in Queens, and is described by the Port Authority as “one of the nation’s leading domestic gateways for business and leisure travel.”
The airport is equipped with an advanced surface surveillance system that uses radar and data from locator systems on planes to alert controllers to potential runway conflicts, according to the FAA. The Port Authority also maintains specialized Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting trucks, including models that carry up to 3,000 gallons of water and firefighting chemicals.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti cautioned that it’s too early to determine what went wrong. NTSB investigators will now begin collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, downloading recordings, and reviewing data from flight recorders.
“It might be easy enough just to say, ‘Oh, the controller made a mistake.’ But there’s got to be deeper questions,” Guzzetti noted.
The investigation comes at a challenging time for air travel infrastructure nationwide, with staffing issues and funding shortfalls creating additional pressure on an already strained system during peak travel periods.
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13 Comments
My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Incidents like this remind us of the critical importance of vigilance and coordination in airport operations. I hope the authorities thoroughly review this case to prevent similar tragedies.
Tragic news. My heart goes out to the families of the pilots who lost their lives. The investigation will be crucial to determine the exact causes and identify any safety gaps that need to be addressed at LaGuardia and other airports.
This is a terrible loss of life. Collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles are extremely rare, but when they do occur, the consequences can be devastating. I’m curious to learn more about the specific circumstances that led to this accident.
Yes, the investigation will be crucial in understanding what went wrong and how to enhance safety protocols at LaGuardia and other airports. Transparency from the authorities will be important for the public to have confidence in the findings.
My condolences to the loved ones of the pilots who perished in this tragic incident. Maintaining safety on the tarmac is of paramount importance, and this accident underscores the need for rigorous training and coordination among all airport personnel.
This is a devastating incident. My sincere condolences to the families of the pilots. I’m interested to learn more about the specific factors that contributed to the collision and what steps can be taken to improve aviation safety on the ground.
Absolutely. Transparency and a thorough, impartial investigation will be essential to understand what went wrong and ensure appropriate measures are implemented to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Tragic news. Collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles can have devastating consequences. I hope the investigation sheds light on the circumstances and identifies any gaps in airport safety procedures that need to be addressed.
Absolutely. Airports must have robust systems in place to coordinate aircraft movements and ground operations. This incident underscores the need for continuous improvement in aviation safety.
This is a tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport. My condolences to the families of the pilots who lost their lives. Investigations will be crucial to determine the exact causes and ensure such accidents are prevented in the future.
Agreed. Tarmac operations require the highest safety standards, especially with aircraft landing and taking off. Hopefully this leads to enhanced protocols and training to protect all airport personnel.
This is a sobering reminder of the risks involved in airport operations. I hope the investigation provides clarity on the chain of events and identifies any systemic issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Agreed. Aviation safety is critical, and incidents like this can catalyze important improvements in procedures and technology to enhance situational awareness and communications on the airfield.