A late-night accident at New York's LaGuardia Airport turned fatal after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground firefighting vehicle, leading to the death of both pilots and injuries to several others. The incident occurred on Sunday and forced the temporary closure of the busy airport.

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Collision during landing

The aircraft, operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz Aviation, had arrived from Montreal when it struck a Port Authority ground vehicle on Runway 4. According to flight tracking data, the CRJ-900 aircraft landed around 11.37 pm local time and collided with the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour during runway operations.

Pilots killed, others injured

The pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft were killed in the crash. Dozens of passengers and personnel were injured. The fire truck involved in the incident was reportedly manned by police officers. A sergeant and an officer sustained broken limbs and were said to be in stable condition at a hospital.

There were 72 passengers and four crew members onboard the flight, according to preliminary details, based on preliminary passenger list subject to confirmation, reported Hindustan Times.

Airport shut, flights diverted

Following the collision, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a ground stop at LaGuardia Airport. Incoming flights were halted, with several aircraft diverted to other airports or sent back to their origin.

Flight tracking data suggested that at least 18 flights were affected by the disruption.

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Damage visible, probe underway

Images from the scene showed visible damage to the aircraft's nose, which appeared to be lifted upward after the impact. Emergency response teams reached the site quickly and began rescue operations.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the exact cause of the collision has not yet been confirmed.

LaGuardia Airport, which handled over 30 million passengers in 2025, remained closed for several hours as officials assessed the situation and initiated further inquiries.