New York’s LaGuardia airport was closed to flights early on Monday after an Air Canada flight and Port Authority vehicle collided.
The New York police department confirmed the collision but could not immediately offer further information. A spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department said firefighters responded to reports of a plane that crashed into a vehicle on the runway at 11:38pm.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the collision in a statement. “At approximately 11.40pm on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident,” it said.
Jazz Aviation LP, operating as Air Canada Express, issued a statement confirming the accident. The airline said a preliminary passenger list, which is subject to confirmation, indicated there were 72 passengers and four crew members.
Data shows the flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau international airport, the major airport serving Montreal, according to online flight tracker FlightAware.
New York’s emergency management authority warned people to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel” near the major transport hub in the borough of Queens. “Use alternate routes,” it said on X.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport, according to a notice from the regulator.
The FAA notice showed that the reason for the halt at the airport was an emergency and there was a high probability of an extension, without specifying any details. In a separate notice, the FAA said the airport could be shut until 2pm local time (1800 GMT).
