A tragic incident shook New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night when an Air Canada regional jet collided with an emergency vehicle on the runway during landing, killing two pilots and injuring dozens.

The flight, operated by Jazz Aviation and arriving from Montreal, was approaching landing around 11:30 p.m. when it struck a Port Authority fire rescue truck positioned on the runway. The impact was severe, crushing the front of the aircraft, lifting its nose upward, and scattering debris across the tarmac.

There were 72 passengers and four crew members on board. At least 41 people were transported to nearby hospitals, including several with serious injuries, though many have since been released. Authorities continue to monitor those who remain hospitalized.

Both pilots were killed at the scene, making this one of the most serious recent aviation incidents at the airport. The individuals inside the emergency vehicle survived and were hospitalized in stable condition, with no life-threatening injuries reported.

According to officials, the fire truck had been cleared by air traffic control to enter the runway in response to a separate incident involving another aircraft. However, audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there was a last-second attempt to stop the vehicle before the collision — raising serious questions about possible communication failures.

Following the crash, the airport was immediately shut down, leading to the cancellation of more than 600 flights and causing widespread disruption across the region’s air travel system. LaGuardia partially resumed operations Monday afternoon, even as investigators continued working at the crash site.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Federal and state officials traveled to the scene, while leaders in both the United States and Canada expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

The incident is likely to renew concerns about runway safety at busy airports, particularly when multiple operations are taking place simultaneously.