Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
A tragic accident unfolded late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport when an arriving Air Canada Express flight collided with an airport fire truck, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot and leaving dozens injured, according to officials.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that 41 individuals were taken to hospitals, including 39 passengers from the aircraft and two emergency responders from the fire vehicle. Authorities indicated that many of the injured have since been discharged, although some remain in serious condition.
The flight involved, Air Canada Flight 8646 operated by Jazz Aviation, was carrying around 70 people at the time of the incident. The aircraft, which had arrived from Montreal, was reportedly slowing down on the runway after landing when the collision occurred.
Preliminary information suggests the fire truck had been responding to a separate emergency when it entered the runway. Around the same time, another aircraft—United Airlines Flight 2384—had aborted its takeoff after a warning alert and reports of unusual odours in the cabin, prompting a request for emergency assistance.
Investigators believe the crash was accidental, with no immediate signs of foul play or terrorism. However, questions remain about how the emergency vehicle and the landing aircraft ended up on the same runway, pointing to a possible breakdown in communication. Air traffic control recordings reportedly show attempts to warn the fire crew before impact.
The aircraft involved, a CRJ-900 regional jet, sustained heavy damage in the collision. Following the incident, the airport was temporarily shut down, with the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a ground stop, leading to widespread delays and cancellations.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation, deploying a team to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Authorities continue to assess the situation as recovery efforts and inquiries remain ongoing.
