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NTSB Probes Fatal LaGuardia Runway Collision as Airport Reopens

Investigators say the case exposes layered breakdowns in runway safety.

Overview

  • An Air Canada Express CRJ‑900 landing at LaGuardia struck a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 Sunday night, killing the pilot and co‑pilot and injuring dozens.
  • LaGuardia reopened Monday afternoon, though many flights were still delayed or canceled as crews finished on‑site work.
  • The NTSB recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders and is reviewing tower audio that captured a clearance for the truck to cross followed by repeated orders to stop.
  • Early findings highlight missing defenses and staffing limits, including a truck without a transponder that would have triggered a runway‑movement alert and only two controllers on the night shift.
  • Airport officials say the truck was heading to check a United Airlines jet that reported an odor, and investigators caution that determining causes will take time and likely involve several failures.