Two pilots died Monday after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, prompting a full closure of the airport and halting all flight operations. The incident occurred after the aircraft had landed, according to multiple news reports.
The collision involved an Air Canada Express jet and a ground service vehicle, described as a fire truck by several sources. Both pilots aboard the aircraft were killed, officials confirmed. Details regarding the condition of personnel operating the ground vehicle were not immediately available.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially reported an “aircraft emergency” that led to the ground stop at LaGuardia. The airport was fully closed as emergency crews responded to the scene. Air Canada confirmed the incident in a statement, but provided limited details, stating they were cooperating with authorities.
According to NBC News, the aircraft impacted the ground while taxiing after landing. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to lead the investigation, though a spokesperson had not yet confirmed that role as of Monday afternoon.
The incident caused significant disruption to air travel, with numerous flights diverted to other New York City-area airports, including Newark and JFK. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates LaGuardia Airport, did not immediately provide an estimate for when normal operations would resume.
The Air Canada flight involved was an Air Canada Express flight, operated by Republic Airways. Forbes reported that airport operations were halted following the collision. Further details regarding the specific flight number and origin point were not immediately released.
As of late Monday, authorities had not released the identities of the pilots. The investigation is ongoing, and further information is expected to be released as it becomes available.
