2 pilots dead after Air Canada plane collides with truck at LaGuardia airport
2 pilots dead after Air Canada plane collides with truck at LaGuardia airport
Sunday night saw the tragic deaths of two pilots and multiple injuries following a runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The incident involved Air Canada Flight 8646, which had just landed with 72 passengers and four crew members, and a Port Authority fire-rescue vehicle responding to an unrelated odor report on a United Airlines flight.
According to air traffic control audio, a controller initially permitted the vehicle to cross the runway before instructing it to halt. “I messed up,” one controller is heard saying on the recording, reflecting on the sequence of events. The collision occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m., as the plane, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Air Canada Express, was taxiing at around 30 mph.
“I messed up,” one air traffic controller is heard saying on the recording.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia reported that 41 individuals were treated for injuries at local hospitals, with some cases requiring urgent care. So far, 32 have been discharged, while two officers and a sergeant sustained non-life-threatening limb injuries and remain stable.
A video shared on social media captured the aftermath of the crash, showing a passenger jet with its cockpit elevated and the front fuselage severely damaged. The incident at Runway 4 marks a recent blow to the aviation sector, which has faced several safety concerns in recent months.
LaGuardia will stay closed until at least 2 p.m. on Monday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the event as “heartbreaking news out of LaGuardia this morning” on X, expressing solidarity with the victims and their families.
Compounding the disruption, a ground stop was enacted at Newark International Airport due to an FAA tower evacuation linked to smoke in an elevator. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft involved was a twin-jet model from Montreal.
The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched an investigative team to the site, while Transport Secretary Sean Duffy pledged to visit the airport to oversee the inquiry. He also highlighted potential staffing issues in air traffic control as a focus of the investigation.
Families were advised to contact Air Canada for reunification efforts, as some passengers became separated during the evacuation. The NYPD urged nearby residents to steer clear of the area and anticipate local traffic delays, with all streets and exits closed for safety.
