Two people have died and dozens were injured after an Air Canada passenger plane struck a Port Authority fire truck late Sunday night at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, officials said. The victims were the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. A total of 41 people were taken to local hospitals following the crash. Of them, 32 have been released, while some remain seriously injured, according to NBC.

The incident involved a Jazz Aviation CRJ-900 flight operated on behalf of Air Canada, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The incident happened on Runway 4 at the Queens airport. The plane was arriving from Montreal when it struck a firetruck on its way to a gate. Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars, rushed to the scene.

Footage shared on social media showed the front of the commuter plane badly damaged and tilted, while emergency responders assisted the injured. The plane, a CRJ-900, was taxiing near Runway 4 when the collision reportedly occurred. Following the incident, the FAA issued a ground stop for all flights at LaGuardia, halting arrivals and departures until further notice.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Port Authority, and the FDNY have not yet commented on the incident. Police reportedly transmitted a second alarm for “Box 37” at the airport, raising a major emergency response.

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How the Collision Happened

The Port Authority fire truck was responding to a separate incident on a United Airlines flight, which had reported an unusual smell, when the collision occurred around 11:40 p.m., according to Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia.

Preliminary reports suggest the plane had clearance to land and the fire truck also had clearance to cross the runway. Investigators are looking into how both were on the same path at the same time. A flight attendant was reportedly found outside the aircraft, still strapped to her jumpseat, while passengers were evacuated safely.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that a team will support the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation.

“Our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia,” Duffy said on X. “We will continue to work closely with the NTSB and share additional updates as soon as possible.”

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Airport operations affected

The collision led to a temporary halt in airport operations. No official statement has been released yet by LaGuardia Airport authorities or Air Canada. Emergency crews were on site, responding to the crash and assisting those injured. Details about the passengers and crew are still emerging. The images and videos circulating online show emergency vehicles on the tarmac and the plane stationary after the impact.

Panic in LaGuardia Tower as Air Canada Express

Audio from the airport’s air traffic control (ATC) tower surfaced on social media, capturing officials shouting, “Stop, stop, stop!” in a panic as the collision happened. Global flight tracker Flightradar24 confirmed on X that the airport had been temporarily closed. Visuals show emergency vehicles rushing onto the tarmac and the aircraft appearing severely damaged. Passengers were evacuated onto the runway.

Audio from the ATC shows the chaos as controllers tried to prevent the accident:

“Truck 1 and Company, cross 4 at Delta.”
“Frontier 4195, just stop there, please. Stop, stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop.”
“Shots 646, I see you collide with a vehicle.”

Despite the repeated warnings, the ground vehicle collided with the plane. ATC immediately instructed other aircraft to go around or divert.