Air Canada Flight Hits Vehicle at LaGuardia Airport: Two Dead and Multiple Injured
A tragic accident happened at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Late on Sunday night, an Air Canada Express plane hit a ground vehicle on the runway. The collision killed two people and left many others injured. This crash forced officials to shut down the busy airport for many hours.
The airplane was a Bombardier CRJ-900. It was operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada. The flight came from Montreal, Canada. There were 76 people on board the aircraft. This included 72 passengers and four crew members.
How the Runway Crash Happened
The accident took place at around 11:37 p.m. local time. The Air Canada jet had just landed on Runway 4. At the same time, a Port Authority rescue and firefighting truck was on the runway. The fire truck was rushing to help with a different, separate event at the airport.
Air traffic control audio shows a very scary moment. The tower controller gave the fire truck permission to cross the runway. Just seconds later, the controller realized the plane was landing. The controller shouted into the radio for the truck to stop. Sadly, it was too late to prevent the crash.
The airplane hit the fire truck while rolling down the runway. Tracking data shows the plane was moving at about 24 miles per hour when it hit the truck. The impact caused severe damage to the front of the aircraft.
Casualties and Injuries
The crash had deadly results. Two people died in the accident. Reports show that the pilot and the co-pilot of the airplane lost their lives.
Many other people were hurt in the crash. At least 11 passengers were taken to local hospitals for medical care. Two first responders in the fire truck were also hurt. One police sergeant and one officer suffered broken bones. Doctors say the injured patients are in stable condition.
Photos from the scene show the heavy damage. The nose of the plane was crushed and destroyed. The front of the jet tilted up into the air, while the tail dropped down to the ground.
LaGuardia Airport Shuts Down Completely
Right after the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stopped all flights at LaGuardia Airport. They issued a ground stop. No planes were allowed to take off or land.
Planes that were flying to New York had to turn around. Some went back to the cities they came from. Others were diverted to different nearby airports. The sudden closure caused a huge mess for travelers.
The New York City emergency management office warned the public about the mess. They told travelers to expect many flight cancellations. They also warned about heavy traffic delays and closed roads around the airport in Queens. Officials told drivers to use different routes to avoid the area.
Weather and Investigation
The weather may have played a part in the crash. Heavy rain fell across New York City on Sunday night. Just hours before the accident, the airport posted warnings about bad weather. Water was pooling on the tarmac.
Federal officials will investigate the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA will look at all the facts. They will listen to the recordings from the control tower. They will check if the rain made it hard for people to see. They will also look at why the fire truck was on the runway at the same time as the landing jet.
Safety at busy airports is very important. This crash will make experts look closely at how planes and trucks share the runways.
Summary of the Event
This runway accident is a very sad event for the aviation world. Two crew members lost their lives while doing their jobs. Over a dozen people are recovering from their injuries in the hospital. Travel in New York City will face delays for a while. It will take time for experts to learn how to prevent this from happening again.
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