2 pilots killed when arriving plane and firetruck collide at New York's LaGuardia Airport, officials say

Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured at New York's La Guardia Airport late Sunday (Mar 22) night when an arriving Air Canada Express plane and firetruck collided on a runway, authorities said.

Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, told reporters Monday morning that in addition to the two pilots who lost their lives, initial reports were that 41 passengers and crew members were taken to hospitals as well as the two officers — a sergeant and police officer — who were on the vehicle. Thirty-two were later released but there were also serious injuries.

Garcia said Air Canada Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, collided with a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle on a runway. She said it had 70 people on board. It wasn't clear whether that included crew members.

CBS News Investigative Unit senior producer Pat Milton cites a source as saying it appears the collision was an accident and there is no foul play or terrorism suspected.

LaGuardia was closed. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for the airport until at least 2 p.m.    

Jazz Aviation said in a statement that the truck was "responding to a separate incident" when the collision occurred.

CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that pilots of United Airlines Flight 2384 aborted its takeoff when an anti-ice warning light come on. They reported an odor in the cabin and requested assistance from firefighters. The pilots said flight attendants were feeling ill and declared an emergency when no gates were immediately available.  

Van Cleave said the Air Canada plane, which was coming in from Montreal, had landed and was slowing down, going 24 mph, when it collided with the PA vehicle. He said the collision probably occurred as passengers were getting off at the back of the airliner.

The Air Canada plane suffered significant damage, Van Cleave said, adding that it was a CRJ 900 — a smaller plane.

Air traffic controllers apparently tried to stop the firefighting vehicle, recordings Van Cleave listened to revealed.

The big question, Van Cleave says, is what the communication breakdown was that allowed the vehicle to be on the runway as the plane was landing.      Significant delays and cancellations are expected as the morning goes on, Van Cleave pointed out.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was "launching a go team" to investigate the crash. Garcia said the first team members have arrived at the airport.