A pilot and co-pilot were killed after an Air Canada aircraft collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport on Monday, NBC News reported, citing sources. The incident occurred while the plane was taxiing toward the gate in poor weather conditions.
The aircraft, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal, struck a fire truck on the runway, according to the New York Post. Two police officers inside the truck were also injured and taken to the hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.
The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada’s regional partner, was moving at approximately 24 miles per hour (39 km/h) at the time of the collision, as per Flightradar24.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where images and videos circulating on social media showed significant damage to the nose and front section of the aircraft.
According to Reuters, the flight was carrying 72 passengers along with four crew members.
Audio Captures the Moment the Disaster Unfolded
Air traffic control audio recorded the tense moments leading up to the collision, with controllers urgently warning the ground vehicle.
One transmission stated, “Truck 1 and company crossing at Delta.”
The tower then instructed another aircraft, “Frontier 4195, just stop there please,” before repeatedly warning, “Truck 1, stop, stop, stop. Stop Truck 1, STOP.”
According to Reuters, the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a ground stop on all flights at the airport until 0530 GMT due to the emergency. The agency noted the restriction could likely be extended but did not share additional details.
After the crash, all arrivals and departures were diverted from LaGuardia Airport. The airport’s website showed incoming flights being rerouted to other airports or returning to their origin points.
In a separate notice to airmen, the FAA said the airport—one of the busiest and most operationally demanding—could remain closed until 1800 GMT.
US AIRPORTS UNDER STRAIN
Even before the incident, LaGuardia was facing severe congestion due to a funding standoff impacting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Travelers had reported waiting up to three hours for check-in, as staffing shortages disrupted operations across the country.
Many TSA agents have stopped reporting for duty, while those still working are doing so without pay. Billionaire Elon Musk has even offered to cover their salaries during the crisis.
The situation stems from a funding deadlock in Washington over the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA. Democrats have withheld support for the funding bill, demanding stricter oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid concerns over its use of force during immigration raids.
In response, President Donald Trump said additional ICE personnel would be deployed at major airports to help manage the growing backlog.