A deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport has left two pilots dead and dozens injured, after a passenger jet struck a fire truck late Sunday night.
Authorities say an Air Canada flight arriving from Montreal collided with the emergency vehicle as it was landing just before midnight. The aircraft, carrying more than 70 passengers and crew, hit the truck on the runway, destroying the front of the plane and killing both the pilot and co-pilot.
The fire truck had been responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft when the crash occurred. Early reports indicate that both the plane and the vehicle had been cleared to use the same runway, raising serious questions about communication between air traffic control and ground crews.
At least 41 people were taken to hospitals, though many have since been released. Several passengers and emergency personnel remain in serious condition.
The airport was shut down in the immediate aftermath, triggering widespread travel disruptions and hundreds of flight cancellations. Federal investigators have launched a full investigation into what officials are calling a catastrophic breakdown in runway safety procedures.