200+ flights cancelled, delays persist at New York airport day after runway crash

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 24, 2026 19:32 IST

New York’s LaGuardia Airport continued to reel under widespread delays and cancellations for a second straight day on Tuesday, as fallout from a deadly runway collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a fire truck rippled through operations.

At least 207 flights, about 19% of scheduled departures, had been cancelled and another 195 delayed as of 9 am EDT, according to a Reuters report citing data from flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of major disruptions through the day and said one of the airport’s two runways is unlikely to reopen before Friday.

The operational strain follows Sunday night’s crash, which killed both the pilot and co-pilot of the regional jet and injured dozens of others.

WHAT HAPPENED ON AIRPORT RUNWAY

The accident occurred around 11.45 pm (local time) on Sunday when the Montreal-origin aircraft crashed into an airport fire truck that had entered the runway to respond to a separate emergency.

Air traffic control audio suggests the truck had initially been cleared to cross the runway, but a controller later tried to halt it as the incoming aircraft approached. An audio clip capturing exchanges between air traffic controllers and pilots reveals frantic warnings and urgent efforts to clear the runway and prevent further movement. “Stop, stop, stop! Truck 1,” an air traffic controller can be heard shouting moments before the collision.

The emergency response had been triggered by a United Airlines flight waiting for takeoff that reported a “weird odor” making crew members feel ill, prompting a request for firefighters.

CASUALTIES AND INJURIES IN CRASH

The two pilots were the only confirmed fatalities among roughly 70 passengers and four crew members onboard the Jazz Aviation-operated flight.

Around 40 passengers and crew were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries, though most were discharged by Monday. Two emergency responders in the fire truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Among the injured was a flight attendant who was thrown from the aircraft while still strapped to her seat. She suffered multiple leg fractures but is expected to recover.

AIRPORT OPERATIONS HIT

LaGuardia was shut immediately after the crash, with all incoming flights diverted. Although it reopened Monday afternoon, operations have been limited to a single runway, significantly reducing capacity.

Investigators have indicated that the affected runway could remain closed for several days due to extensive debris at the crash site. The FAA confirmed Tuesday that constraints will continue to impact flight schedules, contributing to ongoing delays and cancellations.

PROBE UNDERWAY

The Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the probe, has recovered the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Officials said it is too early to determine the exact cause of the collision.

Canada has also dispatched investigators to assist in the probe.

WIDER CONCERNS

The incident has also drawn attention to pressures on US aviation infrastructure. The crash comes amid a prolonged government funding impasse that has strained airport operations, including staffing shortages among Transportation Security Administration personnel.

However, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there is no indication that air traffic control staffing levels at LaGuardia were inadequate at the time of the crash, adding that the airport is “very well staffed,”, AP report mentioned.

LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the United States, last recorded a fatal accident more than three decades ago.

With one runway still shut and investigations ongoing, disruptions are expected to persist through the week, compounding travel woes during the busy spring break period.

- Ends