A tense and chaotic scene unfolded late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport when a passenger aircraft collided with an emergency vehicle on the runway, leaving multiple people injured and forcing a temporary shutdown of the busy airport.
According to officials, the aircraft — an Bombardier CRJ900 operated by Air Canada — had just arrived from Montreal and was taxiing toward the gate when it struck a fire truck on Runway 4. The jet was carrying approximately 80 to 100 passengers and was moving at an estimated speed of 24 mph at the time of impact, based on flight tracking data.
The collision occurred shortly before 11:40 p.m., turning what should have been a routine arrival into a rapidly escalating emergency.
Initial reports indicate that at least four people were critically injured. Among them were two Port Authority Police Department officers assigned to firefighter duties, both of whom were transported to hospital. Sources suggest one is a sergeant and the other an officer, underscoring the seriousness of the injuries among first responders.