NEW YORK (AP) — The runway where an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing the two pilots and injuring several others, reopened Thursday morning.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported that operations resumed around 10 a.m. after the runway was inspected and confirmed to be compliant with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the country, is still experiencing significant delays and cancellations, with over 300 flights canceled in the last 24 hours, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website.
Following the collision, the destroyed plane and fire truck were towed from the crash site as the National Transportation Safety Board began its investigation into the incident.
The truck has been placed in a secure location for examination, while questions regarding the aircraft's condition have been directed to Air Canada, which has yet to respond.
The airline confirmed that the aircraft would be housed in a hanger and initiated the process to reunite passengers with their belongings.
Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s CEO, issued an apology for not addressing the French-speaking community amid backlash for his initial condolences expressed only in English.
On Sunday night, the collision occurred while the aircraft was landing from Montreal, impacting a fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway to manage another emergency. Meanwhile, around 40 individuals, including firefighters and a flight attendant, received treatment for injuries; most have since been released.
