ATC admits mistake in plane and fire truck collision at LaGuardia

2026-03-23 - 15:41

Emergency services work at the site of an Air Canada jet crash at LaGuardia International Airport in the Queens borough of New York, New York. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON: An air traffic controller (ATC) at LaGuardia Airport in New York has admitted he had made a mistake when a plane collided with a fire truck, according to Newsweek on Monday, citing an air traffic audio, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti. “Yeah, I know. I was here. I tried to reach out...We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up,” the controller was quoted as saying. Shortly before the collision, the controller allowed the truck to appear at the runway, but then ordered to stop several times. “Stop, stop, stop,” he said seconds before the incident. Earlier in the day, the New York Post reported the collision of an Air Canada aircraft with a firetruck while moving towards its gate at LaGuardia under “poor weather conditions”. NBC further reported both pilots were killed in the collision. ABC News reported at least 13 individuals were left injured. At least 41 people have been taken to hospitals after the incident, with 32 of them already discharged, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Kathryn Garcia said on Monday. The causes of the incident are being determined. The airport is temporarily closed, and flights are being diverted to other airports.