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Recently released air traffic control audio captures the harrowing moments of a tragic incident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, where a collision with a fire truck resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to at least 42 people.
Just before the crash, the audio reveals an air traffic controller in communication about an emergency vehicle’s request to cross the tarmac, followed by urgent attempts to halt the vehicle’s movement.
The repeated command, “Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” echoes through the transmission, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
In the tense moments that followed, the controller can be heard desperately redirecting an incoming aircraft to prevent further disaster.
The collision tragically claimed the lives of the pilot and copilot and severely damaged the aircraft’s nose. Among the 39 passengers and crew members who were transported to local hospitals, several sustained serious injuries. Most have been discharged, according to authorities’ statements on Monday.
Two Port Authority employees who were traveling in the fire truck also suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.
The pilot and copilot were both based out of Canada, Garcia said during a news conference early Monday.
Officials examine the area around an airport firetruck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport after a collision with an Air Canada jet that had just landed, Monday, March 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
The airport will remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday to facilitate the investigation, which is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, according to a statement from the airline. The flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the major airport serving Montreal.
Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit. Nearby, a damaged emergency vehicle lay on its side.
Stairways used to evacuate passengers from the aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ. The impact left the jet with its crumpled nose tilted upward.