A pilot and co-pilot have been killed after an Air Canada passenger plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia airport in New York, NBC News reports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-900 twin-jet aircraft.
The aircraft, arriving from Montreal, had slowed to 24 mph when it collided with a vehicle operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airport. The incident occurred on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport late last night. According to a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department, firefighters responded to reports of a plane striking a vehicle on the runway at 11.38 pm ET (3.38 GMT).
The flight had departed from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport shortly after 10.30 pm ET (2.30 am GMT).
*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
Jazz Aviation LP, operating as Air Canada Express, issued a statement confirming the accident. The airline says 72 passengers and four crew members were on board, but added that these are preliminary numbers from its passenger list that are “subject to confirmation”.
A sergeant and an officer are reported to have sustained broken bones and are in stable condition in hospital.
The FAA says it is investigating the crash. LaGuardia Airport is closed while investigation work takes place following the collision.
The airport said in a statement that the accident took place at approximately 11.40pm ET (3.40 GMT) and “emergency response protocols were immediately activated”.
The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director.
The statement went on to call the scene a “developing situation based on preliminary information”, adding police are working with airlines and authorities and will give further updates when they become available.
MORE TO FOLLOW…
