Tragedy at LaGuardia: Air Canada flight collides with fire truck
A late-night landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport turned deadly on Sunday when an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing both the pilot and copilot and injuring dozens of passengers and crew. The accident forced the temporary closure of the busy airport, disrupting hundreds of flights.
The Jazz Aviation-operated flight, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle at around 11:40 p.m. The fire truck was responding to a separate aircraft incident when the collision occurred, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. “Emergency response protocols were immediately activated,” the authority added, noting that the airport would remain closed to allow for a full investigation.
Of those aboard the plane, 41 passengers and crew were transported to hospitals, with 32 already released, Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said. Two people in the fire truck were also hospitalized and are reported in stable condition. Families, including one unaccompanied minor, were reunited with passengers at the Air Canada ticket counter.
Flight data shows the aircraft, Air Canada flight 8646, departed Montreal Trudeau International Airport shortly after 10:30 p.m. ET and was traveling at roughly 130 miles per hour at the time of impact. Photos and videos from the scene showed extensive damage to the plane’s nose.
The collision occurred amid staffing challenges in the US air travel system, with a partial lapse in Department of Homeland Security funding leaving many TSA officers working without pay, resulting in longer lines and operational strain at major airports.
Audio recordings from air traffic control reveal that a United Airlines flight had earlier reported an emergency due to a strange odor in the cabin. The fire truck was cleared to cross the runway to assist that flight when the Air Canada plane was landing. Seconds later, the controller ordered the truck to stop before confirming the collision.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived at the scene early Monday to begin examining the incident. Weather at the time included light rain and fog, which may be considered in the investigation. LaGuardia is expected to reopen by 2 p.m. Monday, but significant flight disruptions are likely to continue.
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