A New York City LaGuardia Airport runway collision between an Air Canada CRJ-900 jet and a Port Authority fire truck killed both pilots aboard the plane on Sunday night. The incident occurred around 11:45 p.m. on Runway 4 as the fire truck, responding to a separate call, crossed the tarmac with emergency lights activated.
Newly released video from FDNY Response Videos shows the jet sliding on the rain-soaked runway before striking the fire truck, causing the vehicle to flip multiple times. The plane’s nose was severely damaged in the impact.
Air traffic control audio captured frantic warnings to the fire truck driver moments before the collision. The controller instructed the vehicle to stop multiple times, saying, “Stop, truck one. Stop,” followed by “Stop, stop, stop.” Despite the warnings, the crash occurred seconds later.
The plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Officials have confirmed both pilots died; their identities have not been released. Several passengers sustained injuries, with some bleeding from their heads, according to a passenger’s account. At least two Port Authority firefighters aboard the truck suffered serious injuries, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.
The Port Authority stated the fire truck was responding to a separate emergency at the time of the crash. LaGuardia Airport briefly closed but reopened by 2 p.m. Monday. Travelers should expect flight delays and cancellations as normal operations resume, airport officials advised.
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