LaGuardia Airport Collision, Runway Reopens After Deadly Crash Between Air Canada Plane and Fire Truck

Operations at LaGuardia Airport partially resumed Monday afternoon after a tragic runway collision involving an aircraft operated for Air Canada left two crew members dead and dozens injured. Officials confirmed that one runway reopened at approximately 2 p.m., following an intense emergency response and initial investigation into the devastating .

The crash occurred late Sunday night around 11:40 p.m., when a Jazz Aviation flight struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on Runway 4. The emergency vehicle had been responding to a separate incident at the time of the collision. Authorities reported that there were 72 passengers and four crew members onboard the aircraft when the accident took place.

Tragically, both the pilot and co-pilot—who were based in Canada—lost their lives in the crash. In total, 39 passengers and crew members were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, though several have since been released. Two Port Authority workers inside the fire truck were also injured but did not suffer life-threatening conditions.

Sean Duffy described the scene as “incredibly sad and troubling,” emphasizing the seriousness of the incident and urging travelers to always follow safety measures, including wearing seatbelts during flights. Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board investigators, along with officials from the FAA and Canadian authorities, have launched a full investigation.

As officials work to determine the cause, questions remain about runway coordination and safety procedures. Authorities stress that ensuring passenger safety remains a top priority moving forward.