Accident on the runway at LaGuardia Airport killed the pilot and co-pilot and led to the suspension of flights; authorities investigate the case
A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck on Sunday night (22) on a track in LaGuardia Airportin New Yorkkilling the pilot and co-pilot and forcing the interruption of operations, authorities and the American press reported.
AFP images show the front part and cabin of the aircraft Air Canadawho had arrived from Montreal, seriously damaged on the runwaysurrounded by emergency vehicles with lights on.
The pilot and co-pilot died in the collision, according to US media outlets, such as CNN e NBC. Another 13 people — including 11 passengers and two rescuers — were taken to hospital with injuriesaccording to the broadcaster ABC.
The aircraft, operated by Jazz AviationAir Canada’s regional partner, hit a firefighting truck on runway 4 around 11:40 pm on Sunday (00:40 am on Monday in Brasília), while the vehicle was heading to another incident, the New York Port Authority reported.
A preliminary list indicated 76 people on boardincluding four crew members, according to Jazz Aviation.
US aviation authorities have ordered the suspension of all flights at the airport, warning of a high likelihood of prolonged disruption. “The airport is currently closed to facilitate emergency response and allow for a full investigation,” the port authority said in a statement. Emergency protocols were “activated immediately”, he added.
Collision on the track
O National Transportation Safety Board reported that it sent a team to the scene to investigate the causes of the accident. Jazz Aviation said the flight involved was AC8646, operated by a CRJ-900 jet that had departed Montreal for New York.
The monitoring platform FlightRadar24 reported that the plane “was taxiing on the runway when it struck” the rescue vehicle that was crossing its path. New York’s emergency management agency warned people to expect cancellations, road closures and traffic delays near the airport, recommending alternative routes.
O LaGuardia was already facing delays due to bad weather and, in the previous week, there were longer lines at security due to the impact on staff caused by federal budget restrictions.
Located in the borough of Queens, the airport is the third busiest in New York, with 33.5 million passengers in 2024, according to official data. In 2024, the terminal completed an $8 billion modernization project.
Fatal plane crashes in the United States in recent years include the collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter near Washington in January 2025, which killed 67 people. Other incidents and near misses also occurred while aircraft were on the ground.
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*AFP
