A fatal runway crash at New York’s LaGuardia Airport left two pilots dead and dozens injured, authorities say.
Just before 11:40 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane carrying 72 passengers and four crew members collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on the airport’s runway, Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said at a news conference. At the time of the incident, the firetruck was responding to another aircraft operated by United Airlines, which had reported an issue with odor, Garcia said.
Forty-one passengers and crew were transported to the hospital, Garcia said, and 32 have been released. Among the injured are two officers who were aboard the firetruck, both of whom remain hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Air Canada Express flight involved in the incident was headed to LaGuardia from Montreal, Jazz Aviation, which operates Air Canada Express, outlined in a statement.
LaGuardia will be closed until at least 2 p.m. ET on Monday, March 23, Garcia said.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY.
