Fatal Collision Between Air Canada Jet and Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport

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A fatal collision between an Air Canada regional jet and a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night killed the two pilots and injured dozens of people aboard the plane. Federal authorities are investigating whether the crash stemmed from problems with air traffic controller staffing, vehicle tracking technology, human error or a combination of factors.

Why it matters

The crash at LaGuardia, a major New York City airport, is the first fatal incident there in more than three decades, raising concerns about runway safety and emergency response procedures at busy airports.

The details

According to air traffic control audio and surveillance footage, the air traffic controller issued increasingly frantic warnings over the course of 9 seconds for the fire truck, known as Truck 1, to stop as the Air Canada jet was on final approach to land. However, the truck continued moving closer to the runway, ultimately colliding with the plane.

• The incident occurred late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport.
• The air traffic controller's first warning to Truck 1 to stop came 9 seconds before the crash.
• The controller issued a second, more urgent warning to Truck 1 to stop just 4 seconds before the collision.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to release a preliminary report on the crash within the next few weeks.