LaGuardia Airport Closed After Air Canada Jet Collides with Vehicle

Air Canada Express Flight Makes Emergency Landing at LaGuardia Airport

An incident occurred on Sunday evening when Air Canada Express flight 8646 from Montreal landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, struck a ground vehicle while approaching the runway.

According to reports, the CRJ-900 aircraft collided with the vehicle at a speed of approximately 24mph (39km/h). The incident prompted an emergency response from the New York police and fire department. The airport’s closure was subsequently announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which issued a ground stop for all departures to LaGuardia.

The FAA stated that the airport halt was due to an emergency, with a high probability of an extension. Unverified footage on social media showed damage to the plane’s nose, while arriving planes were diverted to other airports or returned to their point of origin. The airport’s website confirmed that flights had been affected by the incident.

The New York City Emergency Management Authority issued a warning to passengers and travelers, advising them to expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays, and emergency personnel in the area. The agency also recommended using alternate routes.

Source: Al Jazeera