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A tragic accident at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night has left two pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck during landing, according to U.S. media reports and aviation sources.
The aircraft, identified as a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board. Preliminary reports indicate that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the collision, while several passengers and emergency personnel sustained injuries of varying severity.
Photo: REUTERS
According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was traveling at approximately 24 mph (39 km/h) at the time of impact, with its last recorded data logged shortly before midnight Eastern Time. Images from the scene showed significant damage to the front section of the plane, with its nose visibly tilted upward.
The fire truck involved in the incident was reportedly staffed by police officers and had been responding to a separate emergency on Runway 4 when it was struck. Earlier reports suggested that at least two officers suffered broken limbs and were hospitalized in stable condition.
Authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, have yet to confirm the full extent of casualties. Investigations into the cause of the accident are expected to begin promptly.
Following the collision, operations at LaGuardia Airport were suspended, with officials announcing closures until at least Monday afternoon. The disruption led to multiple flight diversions and cancellations across the New York area.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stated that the emergency vehicle was actively responding to another incident when the crash occurred. Travelers have been advised to expect ongoing delays, cancellations, and increased emergency activity around the airport.
LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest in the United States, handled over 30 million passengers in 2025 and serves as a major hub for domestic and regional air traffic.
