NEW YORK — A regional Air Canada Express jetliner collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of people, authorities confirmed Monday, prompting a major investigation and significant travel disruptions at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The Bombardier CRJ‑900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members when it struck a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle on Runway 4 shortly before 11:40 p.m. local time. Both the pilot and co‑pilot were pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said at least 39 passengers and two emergency responders were hospitalized, with nine reported to have serious injuries. By Monday morning, 32 of the injured passengers had been released from hospitals, while others remained under care.
The fire truck had been responding to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight that reported an odor onboard when it was cleared to cross the runway just as the Air Canada Express jet was landing, according to air traffic control audio. Moments later, a controller can be heard urgently ordering the vehicle to “stop” before the collision occurred.
The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft’s nose and tipped the fire truck on its side. Passengers described scenes of shock and confusion as the aircraft came to a halt.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have dispatched teams to investigate the accident, which has raised fresh concerns about runway safety and communications between air traffic control and ground operations.
LaGuardia Airport remained closed into Monday afternoon, forcing the cancellation and diversion of hundreds of flights to nearby airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, as crews worked to clear the scene.
The collision has intensified scrutiny of aviation safety procedures in the United States, coming amid broader concerns over air traffic control staffing challenges and operational pressures at major airports.
Canadian Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said Ottawa is working closely with U.S. investigators as the investigation continues and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
