LaGuardia Airport Crash Chronology | Latest AP News
The tragic crash at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday involved an Air Canada flight colliding with a fire truck on the runway. This incident unfolded during a routine landing but was the result of various prior events, as revealed by air traffic control recordings and data from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
Timeline of Events Leading to the Crash
Air Canada Flight Departure
- 10:12 p.m.: Air Canada Express Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, departs from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, over two hours late.
Ground Issues at LaGuardia
- 11:16 p.m.: United Airlines Flight 2384 aborts takeoff due to an anti-ice warning light.
- 11:20 p.m.: The United pilot reports a strange odor onboard, requesting emergency fire response.
- 11:24 p.m.: The controller mentions that no gate is available for United 2384, which faces ongoing issues.
- 11:31 p.m.: The pilot declares an emergency, expressing concerns about crew members’ health due to the odor.
Clearing Flight 8646 for Landing
- 11:34 p.m.: Air Canada Flight 8646 is cleared to land on Runway 4/22.
- 11:36 p.m.: The tower inquires if any vehicle needs to cross the runway.
Fire Truck Crossing the Runway
- 11:37 p.m.: The fire truck is granted clearance to cross the runway, coinciding with Flight 8646’s landing approach.
- 11:37:11 p.m.: Flight 8646 is just 50 feet above the ground as the fire truck crosses the runway.
Collision
- 11:37:25 p.m.: Flight 8646 collides with the fire truck as alarms sound in the cockpit.
Aftermath of the Crash
- 11:37:45 p.m.: Air traffic control alerts the next landing aircraft to go around instead of landing.
- 11:55 p.m.: Controllers acknowledge the seriousness of the incident, with one pilot expressing concern for the situation.
This tragic event at LaGuardia Airport highlights the complexities and challenges of air traffic management, especially during peak times when multiple flights are arriving and departing.
