Two pilots died, and 41 people were hospitalized after an Air Canada Express plane struck a Port Authority fire-rescue truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, officials said.
The collision forced the closure of the busy airport, with the Federal Aviation Administration ordering a ground stop that was to remain in effect until at least 2 p.m. Monday.
Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, carried 72 passengers and four crew members on a Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal. The jet was slowing after landing on Runway 4 when it struck the truck, which was responding to an unrelated emergency involving an odor in the cabin and an anti-ice warning on a United Airlines flight.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said the pilot and co-pilot were killed. She told reporters that 39 people from the aircraft and two Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting officers from the truck were taken to hospitals. Of those, 32 have been released, but others have had serious injuries.
“Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased and notifications are being made by Air Canada’s care team at this time,” Garcia said.
Air traffic control recordings show the truck had been cleared to cross the runway before the controller urgently ordered it to stop.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop!” the controller yelled, according to the New York Post.
Moments later, the controller spoke with the pilot of a Frontier Airlines flight that was grounded nearby.
“That wasn’t good to watch,” the Frontier pilot said, CBS reported.
“Yeah, I know, I was here,” the air traffic controller responded. “I tried to reach out to my staff, and we were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up.”
“No man, you did the best you could,” the Frontier pilot replied.
A passenger on a Frontier flight, Timothy Henriksen, told CBS News the pilot announced the accident.
“We stopped and then the pilot came on and said there’s been an accident with an Air Canada and a fire truck. … We got a really good view of the plane missing the whole front nose,” Henriksen said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was launching a go-team to investigate, focusing on the apparent communication breakdown that allowed the vehicle to remain on the runway. The agency will also examine whether the controller was working alone in the tower.
Garcia said initial indications pointed to an accident, with no suspicion of foul play or terrorism.
The Port Authority, which operates the airport, confirmed the details in a statement. The plane sustained heavy damage to its front section, and the truck was also severely damaged.
Families of passengers were directed to contact Air Canada for information. An unaccompanied minor was reunited with relatives during the evacuation.
