An Air Canada Express plane reportedly collided with a ground vehicle, likely a fire truck, at New York’s LaGuardia airport. Audio of the air traffic control (ATC) tower surfaced on social media, with officials yelling, “Stop, stop, stop!” in panic.
Global flight tracker, Flightradar24, posted on its X that the LaGuardia airport was closed after the Air Canada Express plane, CRJ-900, collided with a ground vehicle.
Several unconfirmed reports said that the incident occurred near runway 4.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all planes at the New York airport, Reuters reported, citing a notice from the regulator.
In visuals of the LaGuardia ATC tower’s flight tracking, airport officials are heard navigating through several planes as usual. Suddenly, one of them is heard saying, “Stop Truck 1. Stop, stop, stop. Stop Truck 1.”
However, the visuals indicate that despite the warnings, the ground vehicle collides with the plane. Immediately after, the ATC asks other incoming and nearby flights to turn around.
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HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
What the ATC official is heard saying:
Truck 1 and Company, LaGuardia Tower, requesting to cross at 4 at Delta.
ATC: Truck 1 and Company, cross 4 at Delta.
Truck 1 and Company, crossing 4 at Delta.
ATC: Frontier, 4195, just stop there, please. Stop, stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop. Stop, Truck 1, stop.
— The collision likely takes place —
ATC: Delta 2603, go around, runway heading 2000.
ATC: Shots 646. Shots 646, I see you collide with a vehicle.
ATC: Hold position, I know you can’t move. The vehicle is responding to you now.
Is the runway closed?
ATC: Delta 2603, go around, runway heading 2000.
Runway heading 2000, go around Delta 2603.
LaGuardia Tower. Truck 3-2, runway 4 is closed, correct?
ATC: Yes, go onto runway 4 now. Proceed onto runway 4, you have access.
LaGuardia Tower, Car 9-0, runway 4-2-2 is closed at this time.
ATC: 9-0 Roger.
La Guardia Tower, vehicle 9-8. Vehicle 9-8, police show at this time. Runway 4-2-2 is closed. I repeat, runway 4-2-2 is closed at this time.
Tower, Car 9-0, LaGuardia Airport is closed at this time.
The aircraft appeared to have been severely damaged in visuals that surfaced from the LaGuardia airport. Passengers were reportedly evacuated onto the tarmac. However, there are also unconfirmed reports of casualties.
According to the FAA notice, the reason for halting all the planes at the airport was an emergency. Without specifying any details, the regulator also said there was a high probability of an extension to the halt.
In a separate notice to airmen, the FAA said the LaGuardia airport could be shut until 1800 GMT.