Air Canada jet crash at LaGuardia Airport kills pilots and injures dozens

A tragic plane crash at New York’s LaGuardia Airport left both pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck during landing.

The plane, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board when the collision occurred Sunday evening.

Authorities confirmed that both the captain and first officer lost their lives in the crash, while several passengers and emergency personnel were injured.

According to officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, more than 40 people were injured, nine of whom were in serious condition.

Rescuers said the fire engine involved in the collision was engaged in a separate incident involving another plane when the crash occurred.

Initial reports suggest that both the plane and the emergency vehicle had received clearance to operate on the runway, raising concerns about possible communication breakdowns.

Aviation experts have indicated that investigators will examine air traffic control coordination, runway procedures and staffing levels as part of the probe.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily closed LaGuardia Airport following the crash, resulting in widespread disruptions and flight cancellations.

Separately, operations at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport were temporarily halted earlier due to a technical issue, exacerbating travel delays across the region.

The investigation is being conducted by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with support from the Canadian Transportation Safety Board

Air Canada and Jazz Aviation said their response teams were deployed to the scene, expressing condolences to the families of those affected.

The crash has renewed concerns about aviation safety in the United States, especially due to ongoing staffing shortages in air traffic control and airport operations.