An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening, forcing the temporary closure of one of New York’s busiest airports.
The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal when it struck the vehicle at a speed of approximately 24 miles per hour (39 kph), according to flight tracking website Flightradar24.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights at LaGuardia, initially halting operations until 0530 GMT. A separate notice indicated the closure could extend until 1800 GMT, citing an emergency situation and the likelihood of prolonged disruption.
Airport operations were significantly affected, with incoming flights diverted to other airports or forced to return to their points of origin, according to LaGuardia’s official website.
The New York Fire Department confirmed it was responding to reports of a collision involving an aircraft and a ground vehicle on the runway, though further details were not immediately released.
Unverified footage circulating on social media appeared to show damage to the nose of the aircraft, with the plane tilted upward. Reuters could not independently confirm the authenticity of the images.
Neither Air Canada nor the FAA immediately responded to requests for comments to Reuters, as emergency crews continued to assess the situation.
