Emergency at LaGuardia: Air Canada Express Plane Collides with Fire Truck

Incident Overview

Operations at LaGuardia Airport in New York were halted after an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft collided with a ground vehicle on Runway 4, prompting an emergency response and a complete ground halt.

The aircraft, which was arriving from Montreal, reportedly hit a fire truck during its landing approach, as indicated by initial reports and flight-tracking data.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the airport's closure and the implementation of a ground stop following the incident involving the aircraft and the emergency vehicle.

Audio recordings that have surfaced online, along with early visual reconstructions, imply that air traffic control had instructed both the flight crew and the ground vehicle to stop just moments before the collision occurred.

Unverified reports from the New York Fire Department suggest that at least five firefighters sustained serious injuries, while over 100 passengers aboard the aircraft are also reported to have been injured.

Emergency response teams, including Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units, are actively engaged at the scene.

Preliminary information indicates multiple injuries, including several firefighters and passengers, with some in critical condition, although officials have yet to provide final numbers.

In the aftermath of the incident, the FAA has enforced a ground stop on all flights arriving and departing from the airport to support emergency operations and initiate an investigation into the collision's cause.

The FAA's announcement clarified that the airport's closure was due to an emergency situation, with a significant possibility of an extended shutdown, although no specific details were shared. In a separate advisory to pilots, the FAA mentioned that the airport might remain closed until 18:00 GMT.

However, officials have not yet released any information regarding the extent of injuries or damage involved.