Reports indicated that at least five firefighters may have been seriously hurt, while around several passengers on board the aircraft were also reported to have sustained injuries
The aircraft, arriving from Montreal, reportedly struck a fire truck while landing, prompting an immediate emergency response. Pic/AFP
Operations at LaGuardia Airport in New York were suspended after an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft collided with a ground vehicle on Runway 4, reported the IANS.
The aircraft, arriving from Montreal, reportedly struck a fire truck while landing, prompting an immediate emergency response.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that a ground stop was imposed, halting all incoming and outgoing flights, according to the IANS.
Officials said the airport was closed to allow emergency teams to respond and to begin an investigation into the incident.
Initial reports suggested that several people were injured in the collision.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that at least five firefighters may have been seriously hurt, while around several passengers on board the aircraft were also reported to have sustained injuries.
Authorities have yet to release confirmed figures.
The accident
Jazz Aviation LP, operating as Air Canada Express, issued a statement confirming the accident.
"At approximately 11:40 p.m. 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," the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement, reported the PTI.
The statement stated that the Port Authority Police Department and the agency's chairman and executive director are the scene on the runway of the airport, which is closed while the accident is investigated.
Air traffic control warnings
Audio recordings circulating online and preliminary reconstructions suggest that air traffic control had instructed both the aircraft crew and the ground vehicle to stop shortly before the collision. These claims have not yet been officially verified.
Emergency response continues
Emergency teams, including Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) units, remain at the site.
Firefighters worked to manage the situation on the runway, while medical teams attended to the injured.
The FAA said the airport closure was due to an emergency and warned of a possible extended disruption.
In a separate advisory, it indicated that the airport could remain shut until 18:00 GMT.
Further details on the cause of the collision and the extent of damage were awaited.
(with IANS inputs)
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