Recently released audio from air traffic control captures the chaos during a tragic incident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, where a collision between a plane and a fire truck resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to at least 42 people.
Just prior to the accident, an air traffic controller is heard in radio communications discussing the fire truck’s request to cross a section of the tarmac and then urgently attempting to halt its progress.
The repeated command, “Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” echoes throughout the transmission.
In a frantic bid to prevent further disaster, the controller is also heard redirecting an incoming flight to avoid the runway.
The tragic crash crushed the aircraft’s nose, claiming the lives of the pilot and copilot. Meanwhile, 39 passengers and crew members were rushed to nearby hospitals, some with serious injuries, although most have since been discharged, according to officials on Monday.
Additionally, two workers from the Port Authority who were aboard the fire truck sustained injuries, though these were not considered life-threatening, stated Kathryn Garcia, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the entity responsible for the airport’s operations.
The pilot and copilot were both based out of Canada, Garcia said during a news conference early Monday.
Officials examine the area around an airport firetruck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport after a collision with an Air Canada jet that had just landed, Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
The airport will remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday to facilitate the investigation, which is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, according to a statement from the airline. The flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the major airport serving Montreal.
Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit. Nearby, a damaged emergency vehicle lay on its side.
Stairways used to evacuate passengers from the aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ. The impact left the jet with its crumpled nose tilted upward.
