Laguardia Airport Collision: Air Canada CRJ Hits Fire Truck on Runway at laguardia airport
laguardia airport was the scene of a late-night runway collision when an Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 struck an Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle on Runway 4 about 11: 45 p. m. ET; four people were injured and the field was placed on ground stop while federal investigators moved in. The aircraft had been landing from Montreal and was rolling on the runway when impact occurred. Authorities closed the airport and emergency responders attended to injured crew and officers on site.
Laguardia Airport runway collision details
The aircraft, identified as a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Air Canada Express, was rolling down Runway 4 at roughly the end of its landing when it collided with a Port Authority fire truck manned by police officers. The Federal Aviation Administration said the jet carried 76 passengers and four crew members. Preliminary information indicates the pilot and copilot suffered serious injuries; a sergeant and an officer sustained broken limbs and were described as in stable condition at a hospital. No other major injuries were reported.
The FAA confirmed the aircraft type and location, and it was investigating the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board is “gathering information” regarding the situation and has not released additional details. The airport is located in the borough of Queens in New York City; officials implemented a ground stop and closed the field as emergency response and investigation proceeded.
What happened on the runway and radio audio
Flight data indicates the jet decelerated gradually after touchdown until a rapid decrease in ground speed near taxiway E, at which point the aircraft’s track changed ahead of the collision on Runway 4. ATC audio captured the tower controller repeatedly telling the crossing vehicle, identified on the tape as “Truck 1, ” to stop before other rescue units were dispatched onto the airfield. The fire truck involved is described in official statements as an Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle under Port Authority operations.
Investigators have the aircraft and the ground vehicle under review; the FAA said its personnel were on scene and collecting initial information. The NTSB presence is intended to establish sequence, clearances, and any procedural or equipment factors that contributed to the encounter.
Immediate reactions and official statements
The New York Police Department’s media affairs office confirmed the collision between the passenger jet and what appeared to be a Port Authority vehicle. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the airplane model and confirmed a full investigation was underway. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was “gathering information, ” and additional federal teams were being readied to examine records, audio, and physical evidence from the runway.
Emergency medical teams transported injured personnel to local hospitals; officials described two flight crew members as badly injured and two Port Authority officers with broken limbs in stable condition. Airport operations remained suspended while responders cleared the scene and investigators documented the wreckage and vehicle damage.
Quick context: The aircraft had arrived from Montreal and struck the ARFF apparatus while landing and rolling on Runway 4; the crash prompted a full airport ground stop and federal probes.
What’s next: FAA and NTSB teams will continue on-site work through the night and into the next operational period, collecting cockpit voice and flight data records, ATC transcripts, and vehicle movement logs; officials warned that runway closures and flight delays will persist while investigators work. Expect further updates once investigators complete initial on-scene examinations and federal authorities release findings on sequence and clearances at laguardia airport.
