Two Air Canada pilots were killed early Sunday morning when their aircraft collided with an airport fire truck during an emergency response at LaGuardia Airport in New York, according to officials from both Transport Canada and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Air Canada Express flight, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was attempting an emergency landing at approximately 2:47 a.m. EDT when the collision occurred on runway 4-22. The aircraft, identified as a Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet, had declared a mechanical emergency shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia bound for Toronto Pearson International Airport.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm the loss of two crew members in this tragic incident," said Air Canada spokesperson Marie-Claire Dubois in a statement released Sunday morning. "Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."
The fire truck, responding to the aircraft's emergency declaration, was positioned near the runway when the collision occurred. Three firefighters aboard the emergency vehicle were transported to nearby Elmhurst Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials.
Flight AC7832 had been carrying 76 passengers and four crew members when it departed LaGuardia at 2:31 a.m. The pilots reported hydraulic system problems approximately eight minutes into the flight and requested an immediate return to the airport.
"The crew followed standard emergency procedures and was coordinating with air traffic control for the emergency landing when this tragic collision occurred," said Transport Safety Board of Canada spokesperson Jennifer Walsh. The TSB has dispatched a team of investigators to New York to work alongside their American counterparts from the National Transportation Safety Board.
LaGuardia Airport suspended all operations immediately following the incident, with flights being diverted to nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. The Port Authority announced that normal operations would resume on a limited basis beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, with the affected runway remaining closed indefinitely.
The incident marks the first fatal accident involving Air Canada's regional operations in more than a decade. Jazz Aviation, a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc., operates regional flights throughout Canada and select U.S. destinations under the Air Canada Express banner.
"This is a devastating loss for our aviation community," said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in a statement from Ottawa. "Transport Canada will work closely with all relevant authorities to determine the cause of this tragedy and ensure such incidents are prevented in the future."
The identities of the deceased pilots have not been released pending notification of next of kin. Both were experienced aviators with Jazz Aviation, according to company records.
Passengers were successfully evacuated from the aircraft following the collision, with 12 individuals treated for minor injuries related to the emergency evacuation. The majority of passengers were Canadian citizens returning home from business or leisure travel in New York.
The investigation is expected to focus on communication protocols between air traffic control, emergency responders, and the flight crew during the emergency response. LaGuardia Airport has faced scrutiny in recent years over runway safety concerns, though Sunday's incident appears to be the first involving a collision between aircraft and emergency vehicles.