New York [US], March 23 (ANI): A major aviation tragedy struck LaGuardia Airport late Sunday when a commercial flight collided with an emergency vehicle on the runway, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to 41 others, according to reports by CNN.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. when a Jazz Aviation flight, operating on behalf of Air Canada, “hit an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle” that was already on the tarmac responding to a separate incident. CNN reported that the impact was fatal for the flight crew, with both the pilot and co-pilot losing their lives in the collision.
The crash triggered a large-scale emergency response, as 39 passengers from the aircraft and two fire officers were transported to local medical facilities. While the injured were taken to hospitals, officials have not yet released details on their conditions.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the airport has been placed under a full lockdown. CNN reported that LaGuardia will “remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday” to facilitate a comprehensive forensic analysis of the accident site. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration is “sending a team” to the airport to assist the National Transportation Safety Board with the investigation.
Expressing his condolences via social media, Duffy stated, “Our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia. The FAA is deploying a team to the site to support the NTSB’s investigation.” He further clarified that the facility “remains closed until 2 p.m. while the NTSB investigates the accident site.”
The investigation has taken on an international dimension, as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada announced it is also “deploying a team of investigators” to the site. This team will collaborate with US federal authorities to determine the cause of the deadly encounter between Air Canada Express Flight 8646 and the Port Authority firefighting vehicle.
Compounding regional travel disruptions, a separate emergency briefly affected operations at Newark Liberty International Airport. CNN reported that a ground stop was implemented following a “tower evacuation around 7:30 a.m.” due to a “burning smell coming from an elevator,” though the situation was quickly contained.
While Newark has since resumed normal operations and remains calm, LaGuardia continues to face significant disruption. The National Transportation Safety Board and Port Authority police are currently working with airline partners and federal authorities to clear the wreckage and ensure the safety of the runway before flights can resume. (ANI)
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