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In a tragic incident, LaGuardia Airport was largely shut down for most of Monday following a catastrophic plane crash, adding to the turmoil already plaguing travelers due to the Transit Security Administration’s funding dilemma.
Officials announced that the Queens airport would remain closed until at least 2 p.m. on Monday to allow for a comprehensive investigation into the devastating crash, which claimed the lives of two pilots and resulted in 41 passengers being hospitalized, with several in critical condition.
In response to the accident, which occurred just before midnight on Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration swiftly imposed a ground stop, halting all flights at the airport. Additionally, major access roads to LaGuardia were initially shut down.
This incident has exacerbated the existing challenges at New York City’s major airports, including JFK and Newark, where passengers have already been enduring extended waits at security checkpoints alongside numerous delays and flight cancellations.
According to sources, the crash involved an Air Canada aircraft that collided with a rescue vehicle on runway 4, resulting in the tragic loss of the two pilots’ lives and injuries to 41 individuals.
The regional jet from Montreal struck the rescue truck, which was responding to a separate incident around 11:40 p.m., officials said.
“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,” the airport said in a statement.