NEW YORK — A tragic ground collision at LaGuardia Airport has left two pilots dead and dozens injured, forcing a total shutdown of one of New York City’s busiest aviation hubs.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Canada Express Flight — a Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal — collided with an aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle shortly after touching down on the runway.
The collision resulted in the deaths of both pilots on board the aircraft. Out of the 72 passengers and 4 crew members, 41 individuals were rushed to local hospitals. While many have been treated and released, several remain in critical condition. Two firefighters inside the truck also sustained injuries but are reported to be in stable condition.
Preliminary reports indicate that the fire truck was responding to a separate emergency call regarding a "strange odor" reported by another aircraft. It was crossing the path of the landing jet when the impact occurred.
In the wake of the crash, authorities immediately suspended all flight operations at LaGuardia. As of Tuesday morning, approximately 850 flights have been canceled. The closure has triggered a domino effect, causing significant delays and disruptions at nearby John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports.
The FAA, in conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has launched a full-scale investigation to determine how the communication breakdown occurred between air traffic control and the ground emergency vehicle.
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