The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were tragically killed in a fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft struck a fire truck while on approach to land, leading to the devastating incident.
The CRJ-900 regional jet, operated by Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members on a flight originating from Montreal. In addition to the two fatalities, dozens of passengers and emergency responders sustained injuries, though most are reported to be in stable condition.
According to preliminary reports, the collision occurred at approximately 24 mph as the aircraft was nearing the runway. The fire truck, reportedly driven by police officers, had been responding to a separate incident elsewhere at the airport.
Images from the crash site revealed extensive damage to the aircraft’s nose, which was forced upwards due to the impact.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that LaGuardia Airport would remain closed for several hours following the incident. This closure resulted in at least 18 flights being diverted or canceled, and authorities issued warnings about widespread travel disruptions, including delays and cancellations, across the entire New York metropolitan area.
An extensive investigation is now underway, involving both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), to ascertain the precise circumstances that led to this collision.