The impact separated the cockpit and caused the death of the pilot and copilot, as well as injuring several people on board. The fire truck was crossing the runway just before midnight after being granted permission to inspect another plane that had aborted its takeoff. Prior to the accident, an air traffic controller frantically ordered the vehicle to stop through airport communications.
Passenger Joe Capio told ABC that the occupants were initially disoriented but managed to evacuate following emergency protocols. Witnesses stated that a flight attendant survived the impact despite the violence of the crash.
Authorities are investigating the causes of the accident while reviewing safety protocols at LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest in the United States, where measures have been intensified following the incident that occurred during the current Sunday night.