A chilling scene unfolded at LaGuardia Airport Sunday evening as an Air Canada flight collided with a firetruck on the tarmac, instantly plunging the airport into chaos and triggering a massive emergency response.
The impact occurred on Runway 4 just before 11:40 p.m., sending shockwaves through the airport and leaving the front of the commuter plane visibly damaged and tilted. Emergency vehicles raced to the scene as passengers braced for evacuation.
Initial reports paint a grim picture: at least two fatalities and three critically injured individuals. The scale of the disaster is staggering, with over seventy people reported injured in the collision.
The Air Canada flight, originating from Montreal, was a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Airlines. It was maneuvering towards the gate when the devastating impact occurred, coinciding with a period of heavy weather impacting the area.
Among the passengers onboard were reportedly a group of Orthodox Jews from the New York area, adding a layer of concern to an already unfolding tragedy. Their conditions, along with those of all passengers, are currently being assessed.
Four firefighters from the Port Authority Police Department are among the critically injured, highlighting the bravery of first responders who immediately rushed to the scene. The full extent of their injuries remains unknown.
LaGuardia Airport has been completely closed in the wake of the incident, halting all flight operations as investigators begin the painstaking process of determining the cause of this catastrophic collision.
