NEW YORK (TNND) — A collision between an Air Canada regional jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night resulted in two fatalities among the flight crew and multiple injuries among passengers.
The incident occurred as the 76-seat aircraft was landing, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The jet, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was transporting 72 passengers and four crew members from Montreal to New York.
Initial investigations revealed that the ASDE-X runway warning system failed to alert air traffic controllers due to the fire truck lacking a transponder, preventing accurate tracking. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that multiple system failures likely contributed to the incident.
Authorities reported that both the pilot and co-pilot died on impact, and around 40 individuals, including two fire truck occupants, were transported to nearby hospitals. By Monday morning, most patients had been treated and released, with some sustaining serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators are examining the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to gather more information. No immediate conclusions about air traffic controller distractions have been made, though witness reports suggest a high workload during a shift change may have impacted decision-making.
The runway where the collision occurred remains closed, causing significant delays, as flights resumed at the airport. This incident marks the first fatal accident at LaGuardia in over 30 years.
Authorities are focused on understanding why the fire truck was on the runway and why it did not respond to air traffic control warnings prior to the collision.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.