LaGuardia Airport in New York was closed after a Port Authority fire truck collided with an Air Canada regional airliner late Sunday night, resulting in the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot, and injuring over a dozen others. The flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members on board.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after the incident, which occurred around 11:38 p.m. on a runway. Preliminary data suggests the Air Canada plane was traveling at speeds between 93 and 165 mph during the collision. Reports indicate the fire truck had received clearance to cross the runway but was repeatedly instructed to stop before the crash occurred.
In total, two Port Authority police officers and 41 individuals from the flight sustained injuries. Initially, nine were reported seriously injured, but many have since been treated and released from hospitals. The plane was left severely damaged, with one flight attendant thrown onto the runway but expected to survive.
LaGuardia Airport is anticipated to remain closed until 2 p.m. on Monday, leading to numerous flight cancellations. Airlines are allowing travelers to rebook without fees for alternative flights from nearby airports. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, with immediate responses from the FBI to determine if it was an accident or something more sinister.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to visit LaGuardia, and Air Canada has established a hotline for concerned family members of passengers. The situation is ongoing and developments are expected.
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