By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and WILL POTTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and NATASHA ANDERSON AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT
Transcripts from the crash involving an Air Canada jet and a runway fire truck at LaGuardia Airport reveal an air traffic controller admitted he ‘messed up’ shortly after the tragic incident.
Audio revealed air traffic control had given permission for the fire truck to cross the runway to deal with an unrelated issue, before abruptly ordering it to ‘stop, stop, stop’ seconds before impact.
In a recorded conversation between a Frontier Airlines pilot and the LaGuardia air traffic controller on duty, the airport official says: ‘I tried to reach out to my stuff [sic], and we were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.’
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft. Officials said two pilots were killed in the crash, and at least 41 other people were hospitalized.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday morning in response to the collision, President Trump said: ‘They made a mistake. It’s a dangerous business. That’s terrible.’
Harrowing images showed the Air Canada plane crumpled on the tarmac on Monday morning, after the flight from Montreal collided with the airport vehicle at 11.40pm Sunday night.
A female flight attendant was reportedly ejected through the front of the jet while still in her seat during the crash. She survived and was rushed to the hospital.
Aircraft passenger Jack Cabot said the impact sent ‘everybody flying everywhere’ inside the aircraft, and described the aftermath as ‘absolute chaos.’
LaGuardia is shutdown until at least 2pm today due to the crash, forcing thousands of passenger to scramble while airports across the country are facing severe delays due to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Follow here for the latest updates to the crash.
America’s most dangerous airport runways MAPPED after LaGuardia crash
America’s most dangerous airports have been exposed by federal officials, with dozens of high-risk runway ‘hot spots’ flagged across the country.
These ‘hot spots’ are formally marked on pilot charts as areas with a documented history of confusion or heightened collision risk. They’re places where even experienced crews can make critical mistakes.
The danger is far from theoretical. A fatal runway collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday has turned the kind of close call officials warn about into a deadly reality.
‘I messed up,’ air traffic controller says after crash
An air traffic controller said he ‘messed up’ after an Air Canada plane and a firetruck collided at LaGuardia airport on Sunday, audio released by LiveATC revealed.
After the crash, a Frontier pilot who was order to clear the runway told the controller, ‘That wasn’t good to watch.’
The controller said, ‘Yeah, I know I was here. I tried to reach out. We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.’
The pilot said, ‘Nah, man, you did the best you could.’
Newark Airport ground stop lifted after sudden tower evacuation
The ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport has been lifted after a sudden tower evacuation halted thousands of flights on Monday morning.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials said tower staff at the New Jersey airport were forced to vacate immediately due to reports of smoke, triggering a ground stop at one of the Northeast’s busiest airports.
The ground stop began around 7.50am ET and was lifted around 8.40am. However, travelers are still reporting delays.
When will LaGuardia Airport reopen?
LaGuardia Airport is closed until at least 2pm ET on Monday while crews respond to the deadly Air Canada crash.
A Frontier ticketing desk worker told the Daily Mail no flights will be leaving the airport until 2pm at the earliest.
‘If a flight on the board says it’s leaving at 12, it’s not leaving until 2. I don’t know about any other flights today,’ the worker said.
At an early morning press conference, Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia suggested the closure could go even later.
‘That is the earliest it could open,’ she said.
Ticketing reopens at LaGuardia
The Daily Mail witnessed ticketing counters at LaGuardia Airport reopening around 11.30am on Monday.
Delta warns of additional disruptions at LaGuardia
Delta Air Lines warned of additional cancellations and delays at LaGuardia Airport following the deadly Air Canada collision.
‘Operations remain suspended at New York’s LaGuardia Airport following a collision involving an Air Canada Express CRJ aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation and a Port Authority firetruck,’ Delta said in a 9.45am update on Monday.
‘Delta has made necessary schedule adjustments, and additional adjustments are possible if the closure extends. Delta teams are partnering with the Airport Authority and Air Canada to support ongoing response efforts.’
Senator Chuck Schumer says he will be watching NTSB investigation ‘like a hawk’
New York Senator Chuck Schumer said he will be watching the NTSB investigation of the LaGuardia Airport crash ‘like a hawk.’
‘I just got off the phone with NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who told me multiple investigators are en route to LaGuardia,’ Schumer wrote on X.
‘Two pilots lost their lives and dozens of New Yorkers were injured, and we owe it to them and their families to find out exactly how this happened. I will be watching like a hawk to make sure the NTSB and local authorities get to the bottom of this.’
Unaccompanied minor was onboard Air Canada plane
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia share that one unaccompanied minor was onboard the Air Canada plane during the crash at LaGuardia Airport.
‘We understand that the one unaccompanied minor has be reunited with their family,’ she told reporters Monday morning.
Air traffic controller working two positions at time of crash, sources say
The air traffic controller at LaGuardia Airport was working two positions at the time of the crash, sources told NBC News.
It is common practice for controllers to work multiple position during late night hours when there is less air traffic.
Pilots killed in crash were based out of Canada
The pilot and copilot killed in plane crash at LaGuardia Airport were based out of Canada, according to Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport.
‘Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased and notifications are being made by Air Canada’s care team at this time,’ Garcia said at a press conference Monday morning.
‘We don’t have demographic information, but we do understand that they operated out of Canada as their locale.’
Canadian Prime Minister calls crash ‘deeply saddening’
Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney reacted to the deadly plane crash in New York City.
‘The collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft last night in New York that claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot, and injured dozens more, is deeply saddening,’ he wrote on X.
‘Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted.’
Trump considers brining in National Guard to help with airports
Donald Trump suggested that the National Guard could be brought in to help with airport security amid the DHS shutdown.
‘I want to thank ICE because they stepped in so, so strongly. They’ll do great. And if that’s not enough, I’ll bring in the National Guard,’ he told reporters on Monday.
Trump also addressed his decision to require ICE agents to not wear masks while working at the airports.
‘ICE has done very well. I’m a big believer that they should be able to wear masks when they go and hunt down murderers, criminals and others, but for purposes of the airport, I’ve requested that they take off the masks and I believe they are willing to do that,’ he said.
