NTSB Probes LaGuardia Runway Collision That Killed Two Air Canada Pilots; Survivors Describe Emergency Exit Evacuation
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An Air Canada Express CRJ‑900 landing at LaGuardia shortly before midnight on March 22 struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting truck that was crossing Runway 4 to respond to a separate odor incident, killing the pilot and first officer and injuring about 39–41 passengers and crew and two ARFF personnel; survivors describe chaotic braking, head injuries, and passengers in emergency‑exit rows helping others evacuate, while a flight attendant was ejected and survived with serious leg fractures. The NTSB, which recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, is investigating tower communications and procedures after air‑traffic‑control audio captured frantic “stop” orders and a controller saying “I messed up,” and is examining ground‑controller duties, staffing, and surface‑detection and transponder limitations.