A fatal collision between an Air Canada Express aircraft and a fire truck on a runway at New York’s La Guardia Airport resulted in the deaths of both pilots and prompted a full-scale investigation into airport safety protocols Sunday night.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:00 PM when Flight AC7157, operated by a CRJ aircraft arriving from Montreal, Canada, was completing its landing procedure. According to preliminary reports from ABC News, the aircraft was traveling at approximately 30 miles per hour when it collided ‘nose first’ with the emergency vehicle.
Air traffic control recordings obtained by media outlets capture a controller acknowledging the emergency situation and instructing the flight crew to remain in position while emergency services mobilized to the scene.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, confirmed the tragic deaths of the two pilots aboard the aircraft. Additionally, 41 individuals were transported to area hospitals for evaluation, including 39 passengers from the aircraft and two Port Authority emergency responders. Medical facilities have since discharged at least 32 of those injured.
Investigators revealed that the fire truck had received explicit permission to cross the runway shortly before the collision occurred. The vehicle was responding to a separate emergency request from a United Airlines flight whose pilot had reported an odor-related issue aboard the aircraft.
In response to the tragedy, airport authorities implemented a ground stop and temporarily closed La Guardia until 2:00 PM Monday to facilitate crash scene assessment and investigation activities. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the runway incursion and collision.