Taxiing aircraft and all ground vehicles must be in constant communication with the air traffic control to avoid any collision, said Jeff Guzzetti, a retired aircraft accident investigator and NBC News aviation analyst.
Officials examine the area around an airport firetruck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport after a collision with an Air Canada jet, early today. Ryan Murphy / AP
“That vehicle needs to follow the orders of the controller, just like any airplane would to avoid this type of situation right here,” he said, adding ground collisions are a “rare occurrence.”
“I can’t even think of the last time we had a collision on the ground between an airplane and a vehicle that resulted in critical injuries,” he said.
Based on the information available, it did not appear there was any problem with the plane, he said, adding it was likely an “operational issue involving either the pilot, the controller, or the vehicle driver.”