Dozens injured as CRJ-900 collides with rescue vehicle on runway; airport shut down and federal investigators launch probe

A deadly collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport has left two pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada Express jet struck an airport fire truck late Sunday night.

The CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, had just arrived from Montreal and was taxiing on Runway 4 at low speed when it collided with a rescue vehicle around 11:40 p.m. local time.

There were 76 people on board, including 72 passengers and four crew members. The captain and first officer were killed on impact, while chaos unfolded across the runway.

Dramatic images from the scene show the aircraft’s nose and cockpit heavily crushed, while the fire truck was overturned, with debris scattered across the tarmac.

At least 41 people were rushed to hospital, with several sustaining serious injuries, including two emergency responders. Many of the injured have since been treated and discharged.

The incident forced an immediate shutdown of LaGuardia Airport, triggering widespread flight disruptions as emergency crews flooded the scene and a ground stop was enforced.

Authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which remains unknown.