Two pilots have been killed after an Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport
The plane, carrying 72 passengers and four crew, initially landed safely from Montreal on Sunday evening - here's how the incident unfolded
Some 41 passengers and crew were taken to hospital - all but nine have since been discharged. Two fire truck officers are in a stable condition in hospital
It's chaos at LaGuardia Airport as confused passengers huddle on benches and sleep on the floor, writes the BBC's Sakshi Venkatraman
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?
Were you on board the Air Canada flight? Have you been affected?Get in touch
Damaged Air Canada plane at LaGuardia after collision
The full extent of damage to an Air Canada Express plane and a firefighting vehicle has been made clearer by daylight images of the crash.
Some of the latest pictures from the scene show debris hanging from the nose of the plane, while the emergency vehicle involved in the crash lies a few metres away on its side.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from LaGuardia Airport
Travelling to the US from South Korea, Ja Hyun tells me the flight cancellations have left her with no idea what to do next.
She has been at the airport for several hours now trying to fly to Chicago for business. Her original flight was supposed to depart at 07:00 local time (11:00 GMT), but it was cancelled. She was then placed on a 10:00 flight which was also cancelled.
"When I heard about the accident I was worried," she tells me.
I asked what she’s going to do now. "I’m not sure," she replies.
Across New York, flights have also been temporarily paused at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
An advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration said the "ground stop" closure was due to a "tower evacuation", with reports of a burning smell coming from an elevator around 07:30 local time (11:30 GMT).
The pause will put further strain on New York's transport connections, with two of the city's three major airports now out of action. John F. Kennedy International Airport remains open as usual.
It comes as travellers have faced hours-long airport security queues in recent days as a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security continues.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesMayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani says he has "been briefed on the tragic collision" at LaGuardia Airport.
"I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives," he says.
He adds that the National Transportation Safety Board "is investigating the incident, and the City is in close contact with federal, state, and local partners".
New York Governor Kathy Hochul calls the incident "heartbreaking". She adds: "Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe've just heard from US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, who says that his "prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia".
He confirms some of the information given by the Port Authority this morning, and adds that "at least 2 Port Authority firefighters sustained serious injuries".
"We will continue to work closely with the National Transportation Safety Board and share additional updates as soon as possible," Duffy adds.
Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from LaGuardia Airport
A board at the Air Canada terminal shows all flights cancelled
I’m at LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B, where on a typical day several Air Canada flights arrive and depart.
Today, it’s chaos.
A board shows that every departing flight this morning has been cancelled. Confused passengers are huddled on benches or sleeping on the floor. Many have small children with them.
Some people are on the phone desperately trying to sort out their travel plans. Others are just waiting in hope that the airport opens back up.
LaGuardia is no stranger to flight delays, but this is another level. Nothing is moving. There are no lines, no cars outside, and there are hardly any airline personnel to direct people.
The airport is truly shut for the moment.
Image source, ReutersAs we've been reporting, the Air Canada plane collided with a vehicle that was responding to "a separate incident" on Runway 4 of LaGuardia Airport.
We've heard some more detail about this separate incident from Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia.
The "vehicle was responding to another aircraft, operated by United, that had reported an issue with odour," according to Garcia.
She later said that the "a pilot, who had had multiple attempts at take-off, requested support. They were responding to that request."
Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter
Image source, ReutersPort 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.
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.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
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:
Please read ourterms & conditions andprivacy policy
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.
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.
Image source, ReutersStranded 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, external.
Image source, LaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport's online departures board shows a long list of cancellations
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:
Image source, ReutersThe 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.
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.
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".
Image source, ReutersKathryn 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.
We're now hearing from authorities at La Guardia Airport, you can watch live above.
Stay with us for the latest developments.
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.
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
