Runway reopens at LaGuardia Airport after deadly plane collision

LaGuardia Airport’s second runway reopened Thursday morning, restoring full operational capacity after being closed for days following a fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck that killed two pilots.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the tarmac resumed operations around 10 a.m. after repairs were completed and the runway was inspected to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations.

“The runway and its associated infrastructure have been repaired, inspected, and confirmed to meet all safety requirements,” the Port Authority stated. Despite the reopening, they advised travelers to check with airlines about their flight status as disruptions continue.

LaGuardia, one of the nation’s busiest airports, has experienced significant travel disruptions since the Sunday night accident, with more than 300 flights canceled in the last 24 hours according to Flight Aware tracking data. The airport has consistently registered the highest number of delays and cancellations nationwide throughout the week.

As operations slowly return to normal at the airport, a solemn repatriation ceremony took place as the bodies of the two Air Canada pilots were returned to their home country. First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, 30, and Captain Antoine Forest, 24, were killed when their Jazz Aviation plane, operating as an Air Canada Express flight, collided with the airport fire truck after landing.

In Ottawa, fellow pilots carried Gunther’s casket from the aircraft during a somber ceremony at Ottawa International Airport. Forest’s remains were subsequently transferred to a flight bound for Montréal Trudeau International Airport.

The aviation community demonstrated its solidarity as hundreds of pilots and flight staff stood in the rain outside Air Canada’s Montreal headquarters to honor Forest. Captain Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association Canada, expressed the profound grief felt throughout the industry.

“No family should go through this,” Perry said, reflecting the sentiment of a community in mourning over the loss of two young aviators at the beginning of their careers.

The wreckage from the crash site was finally removed late Wednesday, with the fire truck placed in a secure, undisclosed location as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation. The agency has deferred questions about the aircraft to Air Canada, which has indicated the plane would be stored in a hangar while they begin the process of returning passengers’ belongings.

The incident has also sparked controversy within Canada, as Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau issued an apology Thursday for his inability to express condolences in French, after facing calls to resign over his English-only message following the crash.

According to preliminary findings, the fatal collision occurred late Sunday night when the Air Canada regional jet arriving from Montreal with 76 people aboard struck an airport fire truck. Investigators have determined the truck had initially received clearance to cross the runway to respond to a separate incident on another aircraft, though the full circumstances of the collision remain under investigation.

The crash resulted in approximately 40 people being treated at local hospitals for injuries, including two firefighters who were in the truck and a flight attendant who was thrown onto the tarmac while still strapped in her seat. Most of the injured have since been released from medical care.

The accident marks one of the most serious incidents at LaGuardia in recent years and highlights ongoing concerns about runway safety at America’s congested airports. The NTSB’s full investigation is expected to take months to complete as investigators examine communications between air traffic control, the aircraft crew, and airport emergency personnel in the moments leading up to the tragedy.