An Air Canada flight arriving at LaGuardia Airport crashed into a rescue truck on Sunday night — leaving two pilots dead and two Port Authority cops seriously injured, according to sources.
Emergency vehicles swarmed Runway 4 at the Queens airport after a regional jet en route from Montreal struck a rescue truck responding to a separate incident just before 11:40 p.m., according to the Port Authority Police Department, the FDNY, and footage captured by the Citizen App.
Images showed the front of the commuter plane smashed and tilting in the air. Sources told The Post that the pilot and copilot aboard the crashed jet were killed.
The injured cops — who work on the Port Authority Police Department’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit, which is staffed by police to respond to aircraft emergencies — suffered broken bones and are expected to survive, sources said.
A female flight attendant was ejected through the front of the aircraft while still in her seat during the crash — and survived. Port Authority cops helped rescue her, and she was brought to the hospital, sources added.
There were 72 passengers and 4 crew members on the Bombardier CRJ-900 jet, according to Jazz Aviation, which operated the Air Canada Express Flight. Their conditions are being evaluated.
Sources said the plane was carrying a group of Orthodox Jews from the New York area.
The Air Canada flight was rolling down the runway when it struck the truck as it crossed the runway, according to FlightRadar24.
Air traffic control audio obtained by the outlet showed that the rescue truck had been cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway D — though the tower controller can be heard repeatedly yelling at “Truck 1” to stop before dispatching more ARFF units to the scene.
The truck had been responding to a separate incident when the collision occurred, police said.
Photos captured the ARFF truck completely mangled and toppled onto its side, as well as the obliterated front of the aircraft.
The images also showed debris scattered all over the runway as emergency personnel assessed the wreck.
LaGuardia Airport issued an alert late Sunday warning that rainy and cloudy weather could disrupt operations at the travel hub.
The airport is closed until 2 p.m. Monday, and the FAA has issued a ground stop due to an aircraft emergency.
“The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director. The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation,” the Port Authority Police Department said in a statement to The Post.
The FAA did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The NTSB said they were going to send investigators.
“The NTSB is launching a go team to investigate the March 22 incident involving Jazz Aviation, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a CRJ-900, that collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York, NY. Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as the on-scene spokesperson, accompanied by Member John DeLeeuw. The investigative team is expected to arrive today. Follow @NTSB_Newsroom for updates,” they said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
