An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle while landing at LaGuardia Airport on Monday evening, triggering an emergency shutdown and widespread flight disruptions.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the CRJ-900 aircraft, arriving from Montreal, struck the vehicle at a speed of about 24 miles per hour. The jet is operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all flights at the airport until 0530 GMT, citing an emergency situation and warning of a high likelihood of an extension.
Airport information showed that incoming flights were diverted to alternative airports or returned to their points of origin as authorities responded to the incident.
In a separate notice to airmen, the FAA indicated the airport could remain shut until 1800 GMT, though no specific details were provided about the nature of the emergency.
Unverified footage circulating on social media appeared to show damage to the nose of the aircraft, with the plane tilted upward, though Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the images.
The New York Fire Department said it was responding to reports of an incident involving a plane and a vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport but did not provide further details.
Neither Air Canada nor the FAA immediately responded to requests for comment.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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