A tragic collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has claimed the lives of two pilots after their Air Canada Express jet struck a fire truck shortly after landing from Montreal.
Harrowing images from the scene show the Bombardier CRJ-900 tilted precariously with its cockpit section severely damaged, while the overturned emergency vehicle lies surrounded by twisted metal and debris.
The incident occurred around 23:40 local time on Sunday, as flight AC8646 taxied on the apron. The fire truck had been dispatched moments earlier to investigate reports of an odour on another aircraft.
Air traffic recordings capture a controller’s desperate warning: “Truck One, stop, stop, stop!” Eyewitness Leo Medina, 23, told the BBC, “We were literally like 100 meters away. It was like the plane got cut in half.”
Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia said responders acted immediately. Of the 41 people hospitalised, 31 have been discharged, though some suffer serious injuries. The truck’s occupants, a sergeant and officer, are stable.
“I visited them both in the hospital, as has the chairman, and they were able to speak and we’re notifying their families,” Garcia added. All 72 passengers and other crew are accounted for.
NTSB investigators are probing the plane’s speed, estimated at 20-30 knots, tower staffing, and potential ejections. Aviation expert Kivanc Avrenli of Syracuse University cautioned that audio can be “misleading” but raised concerns about one controller managing both ground and air traffic at the understaffed hub. Colleague Margaret Wallace called dual roles common yet “far from ideal” for LaGuardia’s complex layout.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani hailed first responders. “I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives.” He confirmed the city is coordinating with authorities as the NTSB leads the inquiry. Governor Kathy Hochul called it “heartbreaking,” offering thoughts to those affected.
LaGuardia, handling 32.5 million passengers last year, cancelled over 650 flights before resuming on one runway Monday. The Port Authority warns of ongoing disruptions; travellers should check with airlines.