New York’s LaGuardia Airport was forced to suspend flights early Monday morning following a significant incident involving an Air Canada flight that collided with a Port Authority vehicle on the runway. The New York Police Department confirmed the collision but did not provide further details immediately. Firefighters were dispatched after reports emerged of a plane crashing into a vehicle on the runway around 11:38 PM the previous night.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the event in a statement, noting that at approximately 11:40 PM on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight, which operates on behalf of Air Canada, struck a firefighting vehicle while it was responding to another incident on Runway 4 at the airport.
Jazz Aviation, operating as Air Canada Express, also released a statement acknowledging the accident, which affected a flight that had originated from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The preliminary passenger list indicates there were 72 passengers aboard, along with four crew members, though this information remains subject to confirmation.
In the wake of the collision, New York’s emergency management authority cautioned the public to anticipate flight cancellations, traffic delays, and road closures near the airport, advising travelers to seek alternate routes.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a ground stop for all aircraft at LaGuardia, identifying the situation as an emergency and suggesting a high likelihood of prolonged disruptions without elaborating on specifics. A subsequent notice from the FAA indicated that operations at the airport could remain halted until 2 PM local time.
As authorities continue to investigate the incident and assess the situation, the airport braces for a potentially lengthy recovery process, impacting both travelers and transportation in the area.
