NEW YORK (TNND) — A runway collision at LaGuardia Airport late March 22 left two pilots dead and dozens injured, prompting a federal investigation.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an Air Canada Jazz regional jet struck a moving Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle after landing on Runway 4 just before midnight. The incident resulted in the fatalities of both the captain and first officer, with 39 additional individuals hospitalized, including six with serious injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that multiple emergency vehicles were responding to another incident on the airfield at the time of the collision. One fire truck, referred to as “Truck 1,” had received permission to cross the runway, but just as the aircraft touched down, air traffic control urgently instructed the crew to stop.
Investigation data indicates the aircraft was traveling over 100 mph upon impact. The ARFF crew reportedly experienced confusion regarding radio transmissions, failing to recognize that the stop command was directed at them.
Significantly, the airport's surface radar system (ASDE-X), designed for runway conflict detection, did not alert controllers to the emergency vehicles due to the lack of transponders. Additionally, runway warning lights activated before the crash turned off moments prior to the impact as per system design.
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered for analysis to ascertain the pilots' final actions. Initial reports indicate a routine flight until the sudden collision.
The NTSB's investigation continues, focusing on human factors such as air traffic controller workload, communication breakdowns, and situational awareness among ground crews. The tragic incident underscores the need for enhanced runway safety protocols, particularly concerning coordination during emergencies.