New York airport closed after collision between Air Canada plane and fire truck

Preliminary findings suggest the fire truck had been cleared by air traffic control to cross the runway. However, audio recordings from the control tower reportedly captured urgent instructions telling the vehicle to stop just moments before the collision — raising immediate questions about timing, visibility, and communication breakdowns.

Weather conditions at the time were described as poor, which may have played a role in reducing visibility or complicating coordination between ground vehicles and aircraft.

In the aftermath, the Federal Aviation Administration moved quickly to halt all incoming and outgoing flights at LaGuardia, effectively shutting down operations while emergency crews responded. At least 18 flights were diverted to nearby hubs, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.