LaGuardia plane crash: Major New York airport shut down as 'pilot and co-pilot die'

THe pilot and co-pilot of the plane have died (Image: AP)

A pilot and co-pilot have been killed after an Air Canada passenger plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia airport in New York, NBC News reports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-900 twin-jet aircraft.

The aircraft, arriving from Montreal, had slowed to 24 mph when it collided with a vehicle operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airport. The incident occurred on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport late last night. According to a spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department, firefighters responded to reports of a plane striking a vehicle on the runway at 11.38 pm ET (3.38 GMT).

Jazz Aviation LP, operating as Air Canada Express, issued a statement confirming the accident. The airline says 72 passengers and four crew members were on board, but added that these are preliminary numbers from its passenger list that are "subject to confirmation".

A sergeant and an officer are reported to have sustained broken bones and are in stable condition in hospital.

The FAA says it is investigating the crash. LaGuardia Airport is closed while investigation work takes place following the collision.