NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 An Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on the runway after landing at New York\u2019s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, crushing the nose of the plane, according to authorities and photos of the wreckage.<\/p>\n
Two people were killed, according to a person familiar with the investigation into the crash. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an active investigation.<\/p>\n
Two Port Authority employees who were traveling in the fire truck also were injured, the person said.<\/p>\n
The airport was ordered closed until 2 p.m. Monday to facilitate the investigation.<\/p>\n
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the aircraft, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada, according to a statement from the airline. The flight originated at Montr\u00e9al-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the major airport serving Montreal.<\/p>\n
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement that the jet had struck a rescue and firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident at about 11:45 p.m.<\/p>\n
Photos and videos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit. Nearby, a damaged emergency vehicle lay on its side.<\/p>\n
Stairways used to evacuate passengers from aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Bombardier CRJ. The impact left the jet with its crumpled nose tilted upward.<\/p>\n
In the moments before the crash, an air traffic controller could be heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then trying to stop it.<\/p>\n
\u201cStop, Truck 1. Stop,\u201d the transmission says. The controller can then be heard frantically diverting incoming aircraft from landing.<\/p>\n
Jazz Aviation issued a statement confirming the accident and noting the passenger and crew list was preliminary and subject to confirmation.<\/p>\n
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the incident.<\/p>\n