Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia

NEW YORK — Federal investigators reported on Tuesday that an alarm from a runway warning system did not activate moments before an Air Canada aircraft collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

During a press conference, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy stated that the system malfunctioned because the fire truck lacked a transponder. She emphasized the importance of having transponders on all airport vehicles to enhance safety.

“Air traffic controllers need to be aware of what is in front of them, whether on the airport surface or in the airspace,” Homendy said, highlighting the necessity of such information for ensuring safety.

The incident occurred late Sunday night when the plane, carrying over 70 people, collided with the fire truck during landing, resulting in the fatalities of both pilots and injuries to several passengers. Fortunately, most individuals were able to escape from the damaged aircraft, including a flight attendant who survived after being ejected onto the tarmac.

As the investigation continues, it remains unclear if the two firefighters in the truck received any last-minute warnings from the control tower to halt their movement. NTSB investigators have not yet interviewed the firefighters or reviewed flight data from the aircraft, leaving questions about whether they took action to avoid the collision.

Homendy urged caution against prematurely blaming air traffic controllers for the incident, suggesting that the environment is highly demanding. At the time of the crash, there were two controllers managing the tower, which is standard for late-night operations, and one had authorized the truck to cross the runway shortly before the collision.

Following the accident, the frustration surrounding U.S. air travel has intensified, influenced by long security lines stemming from a government shutdown, winter storms, and rising costs. Although flights resumed at LaGuardia the following Monday, the runway involved in the crash remained closed, causing numerous cancellations and significant delays, although these issues did not appear to affect other U.S. airports. The wreckage will likely keep the runway shut for several days, as investigators work to recover critical flight data and analyze debris.