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Crash at LaGuardia Airport leaves two pilots dead, dozens injured
A late-night runway collision between an Air Canada aircraft and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport killed both pilots and injured 41 people, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred at 23:40 local time on Sunday (03:40 GMT Monday), shutting down one of the busiest U.S. airports until midday Monday.
Witnesses describe harrowing moments after impact
Passengers aboard the Air Canada flight, arriving from Montreal, recounted a violent jolt followed by a deafening explosion. Rebecca Liquori, a passenger, told News12 Long Island the plane experienced severe turbulence before landing roughly. "Everyone felt it," she said. "It was like the plane jolted, and you heard the pilot try to brake. A couple of seconds later-just a very loud boom."
Leo Medina, 23, who was on another aircraft nearby, said the Air Canada jet appeared "cut in half" from his vantage point. His plane returned to the gate, leaving him stranded for over 12 hours, sleeping on the terminal floor. "We were literally like 100 metres away," he told the BBC.
Victims and emergency response
Among the fatalities were two Air Canada pilots, including 30-year-old Antoine Forest from Québec. The second pilot's name has not been released. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bran Bedford called their deaths "an absolute tragedy," noting both were early in their careers.
Of the 41 injured, some sustained serious wounds. Two firefighters from the truck involved in the crash remained hospitalized. A flight attendant, found strapped into her seat after falling through a hole in the aircraft's floor, was reported in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to CBS News.
Investigation underway as officials assess cause
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an inquiry, with investigators arriving at the scene shortly after 03:00 local time. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the team was analyzing the plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, both undamaged. "There is a tremendous amount of debris" to document, she added, noting the runway would remain closed during the probe.
Air traffic control audio captured a frantic warning-"Truck One, stop, stop, stop!"-seconds before impact. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said the fire truck had been dispatched minutes earlier to another aircraft reporting an odor issue.
Airport chaos and broader air travel disruptions
The crash triggered widespread delays and cancellations at LaGuardia, stranding hundreds of travelers. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised first responders and passengers who aided one another amid the chaos. "It's scary," said Katie Rojas, 26, whose flight to Chicago was on the tarmac at the time. "You never know if it could have been one of us."
Officials noted it had been over 34 years since LaGuardia last experienced a fatal incident. The crash occurs amid ongoing disruptions in U.S. air travel due to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages linked to a partial government shutdown. Homendy revealed NTSB investigators faced hours-long security delays, with one air traffic control specialist waiting three hours before being granted expedited clearance.
Reactions from leaders and safety reminders
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, after visiting the crash site, emphasized the importance of seat belts. "As you see from last night, they do save lives," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident "deeply saddening," while U.S. President Donald Trump described it as "terrible" and "a dangerous business."
"These were two young men at the start of their career, so it's an absolute tragedy."
Bran Bedford, FAA Administrator
