New York (IANS): An Air Canada Express plane arriving from Montreal collided with a ground vehicle during landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both the pilot and co-pilot, according to Xinhua and local media reports.
Following the collision, authorities suspended all operations at LaGuardia. The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft struck a fire truck on Runway 4, triggering an immediate emergency response and a total ground stop.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the airport’s closure and implemented a ground stop order after the aircraft and the emergency vehicle collided. Preliminary audio recordings and visual reconstructions suggest that air traffic control repeatedly instructed both the flight crew and the ground vehicle to halt moments before the impact.
Unconfirmed reports from the New York Fire Department indicate that the crash seriously injured at least five firefighters. Additionally, more than 100 passengers on board the aircraft reportedly sustained injuries. Emergency response teams, including Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units, remain on the scene.
The FAA imposed the ground stop on all incoming and outgoing flights to facilitate emergency operations and launch an investigation into the cause of the crash. While the FAA has not provided a specific reopening time, an advisory to pilots suggests the airport could remain closed until 18:00 GMT.
Officials have not yet released a formal statement regarding the full extent of the injuries or the total damage to the aircraft and infrastructure.
