LaGuardia Airport in New York has been closed after an Air Canada Express flight struck a ground vehicle while landing late on Sunday, prompting a halt to operations and widespread disruption to flights.
The aircraft, operating as flight 8646 from Montreal, was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members, according to preliminary information from the airline.
The collision occurred at 11:47pm local time, with authorities confirming that the plane hit a Port Authority vehicle on the runway. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all departures to LaGuardia, with the closure initially in effect until 05:30 GMT and a high likelihood of extension.
New York police told AFP that the aircraft “collided with a port authority vehicle”, while the fire department said it had “responded to a reported incident involving a plane and vehicle” on runway four. The aircraft involved was a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada.
Flight tracking data indicated the plane struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24mph (39km/h) during landing. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show damage to the aircraft’s nose, with the front section tilted upwards.
The FAA said the airport closure was due to an emergency and noted a high probability that the halt could be extended. In a separate notice to airmen, the agency indicated the airport could remain shut until 18:00 GMT.
LaGuardia’s official website showed that arriving flights were either diverted to other airports or returned to their points of origin as the situation unfolded. The disruption affected one of New York’s busiest transport hubs, located in the borough of Queens.
New York’s emergency management authority warned of ongoing disruption around the airport, advising the public to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel” in the surrounding area. “Use alternate routes,” it said in a message on X.
Air Canada said its passenger figures were based on preliminary information and remained subject to confirmation. No immediate details were released regarding injuries or the extent of damage to the vehicle involved.
