LaGuardia plane crash: New York airport shut down as Air Canada ‘pilot and co-pilot die’ | World | News
A pilot and co-pilot died when an Air Canada passenger plane collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia airport in New York, NBC News reported. LaGuardia Airport, which serves more than 30 million passengers a year, was closed while the investigation continued.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that there will be no entry or exit from the airport until 2:00 pm ET (18:00 GMT). The plane, coming from Montreal, had slowed to 24 mph when it collided with a vehicle operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airport. The incident occurred late last night on LaGuardia Airport Runway 4. Firefighters responded to reports of a plane hitting a vehicle on the runway at 11:38 p.m. ET (3:38 GMT), according to a New York City Fire Department spokesperson.
The flight had departed from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport shortly after 22:30 ET (2:30 GMT).
The FAA identified the plane as a Bombardier CRJ-900 twin-engine jet and confirmed it was investigating the crash.
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Jazz Aviation LP, operating as Air Canada Express, released a statement confirming the accident. The airline said there were 72 passengers and four crew members on board, but added that these were preliminary figures on the passenger list “subject to confirmation”.
It was reported that a sergeant and an officer had broken bones and their condition was stable in the hospital.
A statement from LaGuardia Airport said the crash occurred at approximately 23:40 ET (3:40 GMT) and “emergency response protocols were immediately activated.”
The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chief and Executive Director.
The statement described the scene as “an evolving situation based on preliminary information” and said police were working with airlines and authorities and would provide further updates when available.
New York’s emergency management authority warned people near the airport, located north of Queens along the East River, to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel.” The X said “Use alternative routes.”
