Summary

  • Two pilots have been killed after an Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport - here's the latest

  • The plane, carrying 72 passengers and four crew, initially landed safely from Montreal on Sunday evening

  • Some 41 passengers and crew were taken to hospital. All but nine have since been discharged; some have "serious injuries"

  • Two officers, who were inside the fire truck, are in a stable condition in hospital

  • The airport, which is one of the busiest in the US, is expected to remain closed until at least 14:00 ET (18:00 GMT) - what's the latest on travel?

  • Pictures and video show the plane, a CRJ 900 model, suffered significant damage. Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched

  • Were you on board the Air Canada flight? Have you been affected?Get in touch

Damaged Air Canada plane at LaGuardia after collision

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey and Charlotte Hadfield

  1. Air Canada plane collision - a timeline

    Freya Scott-Turner
    Live reporter

    Kathryn Garcia stands at a podium saying Port AuthorityReuters

    Port Authority Chief Executive Kathryn Garcia holds a press conference

    Officials are still piecing together what caused an Air Canada Express plane to crash into a vehicle on the tarmac of one of the United States' busiest airports.

    Here's a look back at how it unfolded:

    22:12 ET (02:12 GMT): Air Canada flight AC8646 departs Montreal, Canada, over two hours late, according to tracking website FlightAware.

    "Minutes before" 23:40: A Port Authority rescue and firefighter vehicle is called to a separate issue on a plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York, that had "requested support".

    At approximately 23:40: The plane collides with the firefighter vehicle on the ground while landing at LaGuardia.

    23:40: Emergency services "immediately responded".

    03:09: LaGuardia Airport says that the "airport is currently closed" due to the incident.

    At around 03:30: The "first portion" of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - the investigation team - arrives.

    04:48: Port Authority Chief Executive Kathryn Garcia holds a press conference, confirming that two Air Canada pilots have been killed, and nine people remain in hospital.

    Looking ahead:

    14:00: Officials say this is the earliest time that LaGuardia Airport could reopen, as the investigation is still currently under way on site.

  2. Emergency workers at scene of crash, as runway cordoned-off

    LaGuardia Airport remains closed while officials investigate the cause of the collision.

    Pictures show emergency workers at the cordoned-off site, with officials directing traffic away from the airport.

    Passengers were earlier pictured exiting the airport, with Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia saying most had now left.

    Two FDNY staff stand by an emergency response tent sent up on the tarmacGetty Images
    Two passengers walk with suitcases along the tarmacGetty Images
    A man in a high-vis jacket redirects trafficGetty Images
    Firefighters walk past the cordon at LaGuardia AirportGetty Images

  3. Have you been affected? Get in touch

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    Were you on board Air Canada flight AC8646? Have your travel plans been affected by the closure of LaGuardia Airport?

    If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch in the following ways:

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    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

  4. What you need to know about LaGuardia, one of the busiest US airports

    LaGuardia Airport sits in the East Elmhurst area of Queens, the easternmost borough in New York City.

    It's one of the busiest airports in the United States, with over 32 million passengers passing through in the last 12 months.

    While the airport primarily caters for domestic flights, it offers some international destinations including to Canada and the Caribbean.

    In 2015, an $8bn (£6bn) project to redevelop the airport launched, with 18 new gates and a new concourse opening in 2018.

    An aerial (satellite) view of LaGuardia Airport in New York. Key details shown: A highlighted runway labelled Runway 4 with a yellow path indicating the plane’s movement. A circled point more than halfway up the runway marks the location of the collision with the firefighting vehicle. A small inset map of the United States highlights New York’s location. A scale in the bottom right shows distance (200m / 1,000 ft).

  5. All flights cancelled or delayed at LaGuardia Airport

    Travellers are shown sleeping on the ground inside the terminal at LaGuardia Airport, surrounded by suitcases.Reuters

    Stranded travellers sleep on the ground at New York's LaGuardia Airport

    All arrivals and departures from LaGuardia Airport have been cancelled or delayed until further notice.

    The airport's closure affects hundreds of flights, with carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada.

    Airport authorities have said LaGuardia will be closed until at least 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

    A small number of flights scheduled to depart on Monday morning were listed as delayed, rather than cancelled.

    The full list of cancellations and delays can be found on LaGuardia Airport's website.

    A screenshot of the airport's online departures board showing all flights cancelled or delayed.LaGuardia Airport

    LaGuardia Airport's online departures board shows a long list of cancellations

  6. Investigation under way

    We have just heard from Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia, who said an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will look at all aspects of "exactly what went on during the crash".

    Responding to media questions, Garcia gave a couple of specifics that the NTSB will look at, including:

    • The speed the plane was moving when it collided with the vehicle
    • The staffing of the air traffic control tower at the time
    • If anybody was ejected from the aircraft

  7. Two pilots killed in LaGuardia Airport crash - what's the latest?

    An Air Canada aircraft is shown on the tarmac, with its destroyed nose pointing upwards.Reuters

    The Air Canada CRJ 900 aircraft suffered significant damage in the collision, which killed two pilots.

    Two pilots have been confirmed dead after an Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle at New York's La Guardia Airport.

    The plane, carrying 72 passengers and four crew, was travelling about 24mph after arriving from Montreal on Sunday evening, local time.

    Forty-one passengers and crew were taken to hospital, along with two officers who were in the ground vehicle; 32 are now out of hospital, but some others have "serious injuries".

    The New York City Fire Department told people to "expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel near LaGuardia Airport".

    Kathryn Garcia, the Port Authority Executive Director, said the airport to be closed "until at least 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT)" to facilitate an investigation.

    An aerial (satellite) view of LaGuardia Airport in New York. Key details shown: A highlighted runway labelled Runway 4 with a yellow path indicating the plane’s movement. A circled point more than halfway up the runway marks the location of the collision with the firefighting vehicle. A small inset map of the United States highlights New York’s location. A scale in the bottom right shows distance (200m / 1,000 ft).

  8. Officers inside ground vehicle in stable condition after crash, authorities say

    More now from Garcia, who says the sergeant and police officer who were inside the firefighting vehicle are in a stable condition in hospital "with no life-threatening injuries".

    "I visited them both in the hospital, as has the chairman, and they were able to speak and we're notifying their families", says Garcia.

    She adds that all of the people who were on the plane have been accounted for.

    Garcia says she can't speak to their injuries at this time but some of them are serious.

  9. LaGuardia Airport to be closed until at least 14:00 ET

    Garcia says authorities expect the airport to be closed "until at least 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) this afternoon to facilitate the investigation".

    The investigation "has already begun" on site, she adds.

    Earlier, LaGuardia Airport said in a statement that the airport will be closed "until further notice".

  10. Two pilots confirmed dead - authorities
    Breaking

    Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of NY & NY, addresses the media after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport in New York, U.SReuters

    Kathryn Garcia, the Port Authority Executive Director, says during a news conference the Air Canada plane was carrying 72 people and four crew members.

    She adds the vehicle was carrying two officers.

    Forty-one passengers and crew were taken to hospital, along with the two vehicle officers. Garcia says that 32 people are now out of hospital, but there are also "serious injuries".

    "Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased," she says.

    We'll bring you more from this news conference in just a moment.

  11. LaGuardia Aiport authorities giving update
    Breaking

    We're now hearing from authorities at La Guardia Airport, you can watch live above.

    Stay with us for the latest developments.

  12. Two killed in crash, says law enforcement
    Breaking

    Two people have been killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation tells the BBC's US partner CBS News.

    They add there are also multiple injuries, including two firefighters.

  13. Footage from LaGuardia Airport shows emergency services on the scene

    There is a heavy emergency services presence at LaGuardia Airport.

    Video footage shows debris surrounding a firefighting vehicle, which is lying on its side, while the nose of an Air Canada plane is upturned.

    Damaged Air Canada plane at LaGuardia airport after collision

  14. What we've heard from emergency services

    The New York City Police Department tellspeople to "expect delays and avoid the area if possible".

    "Due to an emergency incident at LaGuardia Airport, all streets and highway exits into the airport are closed until further notice."

    The New York City Fire Department has also posted on X, telling people to "expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel near LaGuardia Airport".

    "Use alternate routes," the fire department's post adds.

  15. LaGuardia Airport closed until further notice - full statement

    Emergency vehicles are parked near an Air Canada Express jet that had collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, U.SReuters

    New York's LaGuardia Airport has been closed until further notice after an Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle responding to a separate incident.

    Here's the statement from the airport:

    "At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident.

    "Emergency response protocols were immediately activated. 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.

    "This is a developing situation based on preliminary information.

    "The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities and will provide additional updates as more details become available."

  16. Teams inspect wreckage after LaGuardia plane crash

    These are some of the latest pictures coming in to us from LaGuardia Airport in New York, after an aircraft crashed into a ground vehicle.

    Teams have been inspecting vehicle wreckage and debris behind a police cordon, while passengers were moved off site.

    The mangled wreckage of the front of an Air Canada planeEPA/Shutterstock

    The Air Canada plane was travelling from Montreal to New York, according to CBS

    A team of investigators in white suits and black jackets inspect debrisReuters

    A team inspects the wreckage of the vehicle

    People stand around with suitcases on a pavement while a police officer stands nearbyReuters

    Passengers waiting outside the police cordon at LaGuardia

    Planes sit on the tarmac at night timeReuters

    Flights have now been grounded at LaGuardia

  17. Plane and vehicle collide on ground at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

    Emergency crews work around a ground vehicle following a collision between the vehicle and an Air Canada Express jet at New York's La Guardia Airport in Queens, New York.Reuters

    An aircraft has collided with a ground vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia airport, shutting the site until further notice.

    An Air Canada plane collidedwith a firefighting vehicle responding to a separate incident. There were about 70 people on board the plane, and local media are reporting a number of injuries.

    According to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, the Air Canada plane had landed after arriving from Montreal before it slowed and collided with a vehicle.

    Flights have been grounded at the airport since late Sunday night, and the Federal Aviation Administration has said there is a “high” likelihood that this will be extended.

    This is a developing story, and we’ll bring you more updates shortly.