Two Pilots Killed After Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck on Runway at LaGuardia Airport

Two pilots lost their lives, and dozens of people were injured after a passenger jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, forcing the closure of one of the New York region's busiest travel hubs and adding another jarring chapter to an already turbulent stretch for American aviation.

The collision occurred at approximately 11:40 pm on Runway 4 when Air Canada Flight 8646, a Jazz Aviation-operated Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal, struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that had been cleared to cross the runway by an air traffic controller. The jet was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of impact.

What Happened

The sequence of events began with a separate incident elsewhere on the airfield. Pilots of United Airlines Flight 2384 had aborted their takeoff after an anti-ice warning light activated and reported a strong odor in the cabin that was making flight attendants ill. The pilots declared an emergency when no gates were immediately available. Air traffic controllers dispatched a rescue and firefighting truck to respond.

To reach the United flight, the truck was cleared to cross Runway 4, the same runway where the Air Canada jet was on final approach. Seconds after giving the clearance, the air traffic controller frantically reversed course.