NEW YORK — Two pilots lost their lives when their passenger jet struck a fire truck during landing at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday evening, marking a tragic accident that has shut down one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The fatal incident happened at approximately 11:45 p.m. Sunday as the Air Canada regional aircraft was completing its arrival from Montreal. The emergency vehicle was crossing the runway to assist with an unrelated situation involving another aircraft that had reported strange odors.
Tower communications reveal that air traffic control had originally given permission for the fire truck to cross the runway, but then frantically attempted to halt the vehicle when they realized a collision was imminent. Controllers can be heard repeatedly ordering the truck to stop while simultaneously redirecting other incoming flights away from the runway.
Dramatic images captured after the crash show the aircraft’s front section completely destroyed and angled skyward, with wreckage scattered around the severely damaged cockpit area. Emergency evacuation slides were deployed at the plane’s exits, while the overturned fire truck could be seen lying on its side close to the wreckage.
Both the pilot and copilot died in the collision, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages LaGuardia. Officials have not yet identified the crew members, though both were Canadian-based aviators.
Approximately 40 passengers and crew members were transported to local medical facilities, with some sustaining significant injuries, the Port Authority reported. The majority of those hospitalized had been discharged by Monday morning.
The two Port Authority workers who were aboard the fire truck also sustained injuries, though officials say their conditions are not considered life-threatening.
The Jazz Aviation aircraft, flying under the Air Canada banner, was carrying roughly 70 passengers along with four crew members when it departed from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
Airport operations ceased completely following Sunday’s accident, with all air traffic rerouted to other facilities. LaGuardia is expected to stay shuttered until at least 2 p.m. Monday while National Transportation Safety Board officials conduct their investigation.
The closure compounds existing travel difficulties as U.S. airports face disruptions from an ongoing government funding standoff during the peak spring break travel period.
LaGuardia ranks as the nation’s 19th most active airport among more than 500 facilities nationwide, based on 2024 Federal Aviation Administration data.
The facility began serving commercial flights in 1939 and sits in Queens, roughly 9 miles from Manhattan.
While it’s premature to determine what led to this fatal accident, the incident highlights ongoing pressures facing air traffic control personnel in recent years.
Though air traffic controllers aren’t directly impacted by the current government shutdown, they’re classified as essential personnel and have previously been required to perform their high-stress duties without compensation during similar funding lapses.
The current partial shutdown has stretched beyond a month, creating lengthy delays and passenger frustration at airports nationwide.
Numerous Transportation Security Administration workers have either called out sick or resigned rather than continue working without pay.
In response, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of immigration enforcement personnel to assist TSA operations on Monday.
Congressional leaders remain at an impasse over funding approval for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees TSA operations.
