A tragic aviation incident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has left both pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada Express jet collided with an airport fire truck during landing.
The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board when the collision occurred late Sunday.
Authorities confirmed that both the captain and first officer lost their lives in the crash, while several passengers and emergency personnel sustained injuries.
According to officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey more than 40 people were injured, with nine individuals reported to be in serious condition.
Emergency responders said the fire truck involved in the collision was attending to a separate incident involving another aircraft when the accident happened.
Initial reports suggest that both the aircraft and the emergency vehicle had received clearance to operate on the runway, raising concerns about possible communication lapses.
Aviation experts have indicated that investigators will examine air traffic control coordination, runway procedures, and staffing levels as part of the probe.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily shut down LaGuardia Airport following the incident, leading to widespread flight disruptions and cancellations.
Separately, operations at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport were briefly halted earlier due to a technical issue, compounding travel delays across the region.
Investigations are being led by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with support from Canada’s Transportation Safety Board
Air Canada and Jazz Aviation said their response teams have been deployed to the scene, expressing condolences to the families of those affected.
The accident has renewed concerns about aviation safety in the United States, especially amid ongoing staffing shortages in air traffic control and airport operations.
