NEW YORK (TNND) — Two pilots were killed and dozens more injured in a runway collision at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2023, according to federal investigators.
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the incident occurred just before midnight when an Air Canada Jazz regional jet landed on Runway 4 and struck an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle.
The collision resulted in the deaths of both the captain and first officer, with 39 individuals hospitalized, six sustaining serious injuries.
Authorities said the impact took place as air traffic control had cleared the flight to land while multiple emergency vehicles were responding to an unrelated incident on the airfield. One fire truck, designated as “Truck 1,” was granted permission to cross the runway.
Seconds before the aircraft touched down, controllers warned the truck to stop, but it was too late. Data indicates the jet was traveling over 100 mph during the collision.
Investigators noted that the truck's crew reported confusion over radio communications, failing to recognize that the stop command was directed at them.
Significantly, the airport's surface radar system (ASDE-X) did not issue any warnings due to the emergency vehicles lacking transponders, which hindered accurate tracking. Additionally, runway warning lights, activated prior to the crash, shut off just seconds before impact.
Investigators are analyzing the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to gain insight into the pilots' actions. The flight had initially been routine, with one flight attendant describing a sudden jolt during landing.
Human factors, including air traffic controller workload and radio communication breakdowns, are also being examined, as controllers were managing multiple responsibilities during the incident.
While the investigation continues, the NTSB emphasizes that this report is preliminary. The crash has sparked renewed scrutiny of runway safety protocols and coordination between aircraft and ground vehicles.