by Janice McAllister
A regional jet struck a police-operated fire truck during landing in New York, leaving two crew members dead, dozens injured, and forcing the airport’s temporary closure
A fatal accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet after the aircraft collided with a fire truck on the runway. The incident, which occurred during landing, prompted the immediate closure of the airport and triggered a large-scale emergency response.
According to NBC News, dozens of passengers and personnel were injured, though the full extent of the casualties has yet to be officially confirmed. Sources cited by the broadcaster indicated that the fire truck involved in the collision was being operated by police officers. Earlier reports suggested that at least two officers—a sergeant and a colleague—sustained broken limbs but were in stable condition in hospital.
The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, had departed from Montreal carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Preliminary data from Flightradar24 indicates that the plane struck the emergency vehicle at a speed of approximately 24 miles per hour, with its last recorded signal at 11:37 p.m.
Images from the scene showed visible damage to the aircraft’s nose, which appeared bent upward following the impact. Officials have so far refrained from providing detailed statements regarding fatalities or injuries, as investigations remain ongoing.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that LaGuardia would remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday, while flight tracking data confirmed that multiple flights were diverted or forced to return to their points of origin.
In a brief statement, Air Canada acknowledged the incident and referred inquiries to Jazz Aviation. Neither the National Transportation Safety Board nor the FAA immediately responded to requests for further comment.
Authorities from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stated that the fire truck had been responding to a separate emergency when it was struck by the landing aircraft on runway 4. Meanwhile, New York City’s emergency alert system warned of widespread disruptions in the surrounding area, including road closures, traffic delays, and increased emergency activity.
(Associated Medias) – all rights reserved
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