2 dead, 41 injured after plane and firetruck collide at LaGuardia Airport

Two people died and 41 others were injured late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport in New York when an Air Canada Express plane collided with a firetruck on the runway, officials reported. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. Among the injured, 39 were passengers from the aircraft, and two were officers from the Port Authority's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team. Kathryn Garcia, the Executive Director of the Port Authority, stated on Monday morning that initial reports indicated 32 of the injured had been released from hospitals, but some sustained serious injuries. Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, had 70 people on board, though it was unclear if this figure included the crew. A source cited by CBS News Investigative Unit senior producer Pat Milton mentioned that the collision appeared to be accidental, with no signs of foul play or terrorism. LaGuardia Airport was closed following the incident, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop that would last until at least 2 p.m. Jazz Aviation explained that the firetruck was responding to another incident when the crash occurred. According to CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave, the pilots of United Airlines Flight 2384 had to abort their takeoff after an anti-ice warning light activated. They reported a smell in the cabin, prompting a request for help from firefighters. The pilots declared an emergency when they could not find available gates, as flight attendants were feeling unwell. Van Cleave added that the Air Canada plane, arriving from Montreal, had landed and was slowing down to 24 mph when it struck the Port Authority vehicle, likely as passengers were disembarking from the rear of the aircraft.