Two Pilots Killed as Air Canada Express Jet Strikes Fire Truck on LaGuardia Runway

NEW YORK — Federal investigators said they are scrutinizing overnight air traffic control staffing and gaps in runway safety technology after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with an airport fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night, killing both pilots.

The Bombardier CRJ700, operated by Jazz Aviation and arriving from Montreal, struck the truck shortly after landing. Pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther were killed. Forty-three passengers and crew members were injured, and two people inside the fire truck were also taken to hospital.

Final Moments on Tape

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy released details from the final three minutes of the cockpit voice recorder. According to the board, the truck was instructed to stop nine seconds before the recording ended, and the instruction was repeated four seconds before it stopped.

Homendy said the truck was not equipped with a transponder, a device that could have helped trigger an alert on the airport’s runway warning system. She also said two air traffic controllers were in the tower at the time, which she described as standard for that hour of the night, while cautioning against speculation and “finger pointing” before the investigation is complete.

Survivor Accounts

One flight attendant, Solange Tremblay of Quebec, survived after being ejected from the aircraft while still strapped to her seat; she was found more than 100 meters from the plane with multiple fractures, according to reports.

Passengers described a rough landing followed by heavy braking and a loud impact. Several said travelers helped one another evacuate by sliding down a wing.

Airport Operations

LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the United States, remained open for domestic and international flights. Runway 4, where the collision occurred, is being closed nightly while the investigation continues.

Runway Incursions Under Scrutiny

Collisions and near-collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles, known as runway incursions, have been a long-standing concern for the NTSB, which has repeatedly urged wider use of technology that alerts controllers and crews when a runway is occupied. Investigators are expected to examine radio communications, the fire truck’s movements and the performance of the airport’s surface surveillance equipment.

Air Canada and Jazz Aviation said they were cooperating with U.S. and Canadian authorities. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada typically participates in U.S. investigations involving Canadian-registered aircraft.

The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within weeks of an accident, with a final determination of probable cause taking a year or more. The collision is likely to intensify scrutiny of ground-vehicle tracking and controller staffing at major U.S. airports, issues that have drawn growing attention from safety advocates.