Plane and ground vehicle collide at New York's LaGuardia Airport halting flights

Two pilots have died after an Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle responding to a separate incident at LaGuardia Airport. The plane was carrying 72 people and four crew members, and the vehicle was carrying two, Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia confirmed. Forty-one passengers and crew were taken to hospital along with the two vehicle officers. Garcia said 32 people were discharged but others had serious injuries. LaGuardia Airport will be closed until "at least" 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Monday, Garcia said. An investigation "has already begun" on site. The plane was arriving from Montreal and had landed. It had slowed to about 24mph when it collided with a vehicle from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport. The plane – a CRJ 900 model carrying about 70 people – suffered significant damage. All on board the plane have been accounted for, Garcia said, while also saying the sergeant and police officer who were inside the firefighting vehicle were 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", said Garcia. Video footage on social media showed the aircraft, which is operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz aviation, coming to a rest with its nose upturned. LaGuardia Airport also confirmed the incident in a statement, stating 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." A preliminary passenger list showed there were 76 people on board which included four crew members, Jazz aviation said in a statement. In a statement on X, the New York City Police Department told people 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 posted on X telling people to "expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel near LaGuardia Airport". "Use alternate routes," the post on X said. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation team.