The pilot and co-pilot have died, and more than 70 people are reported injured after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport early Monday. The crash occurred as the aircraft was landing, triggering a major emergency response and forcing authorities to shut down operations at the busy airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said there is a “high” likelihood the suspension will be extended, though it has not yet specified the cause of the disruption. Several videos and photos circulating online show significant damage to the aircraft’s cockpit.
New York’s emergency management authority warned people to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel” near the major transport hub in the borough of Queens. “Use alternate routes,” it said on X.
As per flight tracking site FlightRadar24, the plane was being operated by regional carrier Jazz. The CRJ-900 aircraft, currently manufactured by Mitsubishi, seats about 76 passengers, a CNN report said.