Air Canada Express Plane Collides with Vehicle at LaGuardia, Airport Shuts Down
NEW YORK (AP) — LaGuardia Airport in New York City was temporarily closed Monday after an Air Canada Express plane collided with a ground vehicle upon landing, triggering a mass casualty response, officials said.
The incident involving Flight AC8646, arriving from Montreal, occurred on the runway. FlightRadar24 first reported the collision. Unverified footage circulating on social media appears to show damage to the aircraft’s nose, though Reuters has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the images.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all flights at LaGuardia at approximately 0530 GMT. An initial FAA notice indicated a potential extension of the shutdown, and a subsequent notice suggested the airport could remain closed until 1800 GMT.
The FAA cited an emergency as the reason for the halt in operations. The closure of LaGuardia, a major transportation hub, is expected to cause significant disruptions for travelers.
Further details regarding the extent of any injuries and the cause of the collision are currently unavailable. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.