The Air Canada Express flight after the collision at LaGuardia Airport|@NTSB_Newsroom|X
New York’s LaGuardia Airport was closed yesterday following a tragic runway collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a fire truck on Sunday that killed the pilot and the copilot.
Audio from airport communications reveals a frantic air traffic controller attempting to stop the vehicle, which had been cleared to inspect a different aircraft.
The Air Canada flight was carrying 76 people.
The incident caused massive logistical disruption at one of the nation’s busiest travel hubs as the airport was closed. Over 600 flights were canceled on Monday.
The NTSB has begun investigations into the cause of the collision. The deadly crash happened amid US airports facing a massive staff shortage stemming from the partial government shutdown. ICE agents have been deployed to help with staffing.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that LaGuardia Airport currently has only 33 certified controllers, short of the goal of 37.