NEW YORK (AP) — LaGuardia Airport in New York has reopened its runway after a tragic incident on Sunday that resulted in the collision of an Air Canada plane with a fire truck. The crash, which claimed the lives of two pilots, has raised concerns regarding safety protocols at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that after extensive repairs and inspections, the runway resumed operations at approximately 10 AM on Thursday, fully complying with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
Air traffic operations are gradually returning to normal, although LaGuardia remains the airport with the highest number of delays and cancellations in the country, with more than 300 flights cancelled within the last 24 hours, according to FlightAware.
The wreckage of both the Air Canada aircraft and the fire truck was removed from the crash site on Wednesday as the National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The truck has been placed in a secured location while inquiries continue.
The airline has stated that it will begin reuniting passengers with their baggage shortly and that the damaged plane will be stored in a hangar.
Additionally, Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, issued an apology for not delivering his condolences in French, amidst criticisms following his English-only statement. The crash occurred when the Air Canada regional jet, arriving from Montreal with 76 passengers, collided with the fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway to attend to a separate incident.
A total of around 40 individuals were treated for injuries, including the two firefighters, with most having since been discharged from the hospital. A flight attendant also survived the incident, having been thrown to the tarmac while still strapped in her seat.
