LaGuardia Airport reopens as runway crash investigators arrive on scene in NYC
New York City's LaGuardia Airport reopened Monday following Sunday night's runway crash. The first flight took off just a few minutes after 2 p.m., though there are extensive residual delays.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to hold a press conference Monday evening. NTSB investigators were seen in a social media post walking the scene of the collision.
The Canadian counterpart to the NTSB, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, is also deploying a team of investigators.
What we know about LaGuardia Airport runway crash
An arriving Air Canada Express plane operated by Jazz Aviation collided with an emergency vehicle on a runway just before midnight. There were 72 passengers on board with two flight attendants and two pilots, coming from Montreal.
The pilot and co-pilot of the plane were killed.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a briefing about the crash Monday afternoon.
"We send our deepest condolences to their families," Duffy said.
Duffy said the FAA and Transport Canada are also on the scene.
"It's incredibly sad. It's troubling. And I just want to let America know that we are working are hearts out to make sure that when people travel, whether by rail, or by car, or by air, that they travel safely," Duffy said.
Duffy reminded air travelers to wear their seatbelts on board.
Why the fire truck was crossing the runway
"We had a situation with a United Airlines aircraft that had aborted takeoff. This is the reason why the fire and rescue crew had been deployed. Of course, the Air Canada flight was arriving on Runway 4 when the incident took place at the Delta intersection," Bedford said.
Bedford said the pilot and co-pilot who were killed were "two young men at the start of their careers, so it's an absolute tragedy that we're sitting here with their loss."
"It has been over 34 years since we've had an incident with a death at the airport," Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said.
The fire and rescue vehicle carried two people. Both were hospitalized, and one is expected to be released Monday. The other is expected to remain overnight and be released Tuesday.
"This could've been an even broader tragedy if everyone had not responded as quickly and effectively as they did," Garcia said.
"It was an aviation disaster the likes of which we have not seen here in over three decades," Hochul said. "Let's acknowledge the tremendous stress, particularly in recent days, that our airline workers are under. And, as we come through here, know that this is an ecosystem which is not self-sustaining. There are countless individuals who step up every day willing to do the hard work to make sure we are safe. And in my judgment, they all deserve gratitude, not just on this day."
"I'm grateful for the work of dedicated first responders, including men and women from the NYPD, FDNY and NYCEM who arrived on the scene within minutes, treated injuries and handled a chaotic scene with incredible professionalism and poise," Mamdani said. "I know that this crash has shaken New Yorkers across the five boroughs, whether they are traveling today or simply watching from home, especially since it's the first fatal crash in more than 30 years. I want New Yorkers to know that the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of this accident, and that we will not rest until the conclusion of that investigation."
Air Canada set up a hotline for friends and family of the flight's passengers at 1-800-961-7099.
"It's troubling that we had an aircraft hit a fire truck"
"When these incidents happen, you see politics fade away and people work together," Duffy said, apparently alluding to the lengthy back-and-forth he's had with Hochul over congestion pricing and subway safety.. "That's why you have people with very different political views coming together to stand together to respond to incidents like this."
Duffy said LaGuardia has a target of 37 controllers, and 33 controllers are currently employed there with seven more in training.
"As our airports go, LaGuardia is a very well-staffed airport. We're a couple of controllers short, in total, but it is a well-staffed airport," Duffy said.
Duffy said the particulars of Sunday night's staffing, however, will eventually be revealed by the NTSB after their investigation. He did however say there was more than one controller working Sunday night.
"It's troubling that we had an aircraft hit a fire truck. I mean, that's troubling. Full stop," Duffy said.
About the injuries
Thirty-nine people from the aircraft and two emergency personnel from the vehicle were hospitalized.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News a flight attendant strapped to her seat fell through an opening in the severed aircraft. She was found by rescuers still in the seat and was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The fire-rescue truck was responding to a report of an odor in the cabin of a United Airlines flight. Air traffic control staff apparently cleared the vehicle to cross the runway to get to the United plane before telling it to stop. Meanwhile, the Air Canada flight had just landed and was still slowing down when the two collided. The plane was traveling at about 100 mph when the crash happened, sources said.
A video posted on social media showed the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the massive jet.
The president of the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) union said their team will also help with the investigation.
"The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy," said ALPA president Jason Ambrosi. "These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time."
ATC audio reveals details before and after crash
In audio captured by ATC.com, a person is heard telling the emergency vehicle to stop moments before the collision.
"Stop stop stop truck one stop stop stop."
After the crash, an air traffic controller spoke with a crew from Frontier Airlines.
"That wasn't good to watch," the pilot said.
"I tried to reach out to my staff, and we were dealing with an emergency earlier, and I messed up," the air traffic controller said.
"No, man. You did the best you could," the pilot responded.
President Trump calls collision "terrible"
President Trump said Monday the runway crash was "terrible."
"They made a mistake. It's a dangerous business. That's terrible," Mr. Trump said.
"We came in pretty hard"
Passenger Jack Cabot described his experience during the incident.
"We went down for a regular landing. We came in pretty hard. We immediately hit something, and it was just chaos in there," he said. "Everybody was hunkered down, and everybody was screaming pretty quickly. We didn't have any directions because the pilot's cabin had been kind of destroyed."
Cabot said he and other passengers jumped out of the plane through the emergency exit.
Air Canada president provides additional information
Michael Rousseau, the president and CEO of Air Canada, spoke in a video about the crash.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the Jazz community and their families," he said.
Rousseau said airline officials are working with the authorities on emergency response efforts, and a special team is assisting with customers and their families.
"Members of our specialized team will be on their way to New York. We know that many people are concerned about the welfare of their loved ones, and we've set up a special help line. Friends and family can call 1-800-961-7099," he said.
LaGuardia Airport closes
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the airport until 2 p.m. as the NTSB investigates. It has since reopened.
The closure caused a chaotic morning for travelers as they scramble to figure out their next move. Some passengers were rerouted to John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport as most flights from LaGuardia were canceled.
New York, New Jersey politicians speak out
Mamdani said he was briefed on the incident Monday morning.
"I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives. The flight operator, Air Canada, has set up a hotline for friends and families of affected passengers: 1-800-961-7099," he wrote on X.
"Heartbreaking news out of LaGuardia this morning," Hochul said on X. "Two pilots were killed and dozens injured in this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected. The airport will remain closed until 2:00 PM. We'll continue to share updates as they become available."
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said state officials will work closely with the Port Authority to "ensure the safety of all who travel through our airports."
"My thoughts are with the victims and the families affected by the terrible crash at LaGuardia Airport, and I am hoping for the full and swift recovery of those who were injured," she wrote.
"I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic crash at LaGuardia this morning," said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer on X. "Thank you to the brave first responders their quick action, and I am praying for the passengers, crew, and their families. We need an immediate investigation into what happened here so we can make sure it never happens again."
