LaGuardia airport's runway safety system 'did not alert' at time of deadly Air Canada jet and fire truck collision, NTSB says

Key Points:

• An Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on LaGuardia Airport's runway Sunday night, killing two pilots and injuring dozens of passengers; the airport's runway safety system failed to alert air traffic controllers prior to the crash.
• Investigators found the fire truck lacked a transponder, making it invisible to certain air traffic control systems, and the runway surface detection system did not generate an alert due to complex vehicle movements near the runway.
• Two air traffic controllers were on duty at the time, with the controller in charge managing dual roles; there is no current evidence of fatigue or distraction contributing to the accident, though the environment is described as high workload.
• The collision caused significant damage, leading to runway closure and flight disruptions at LaGuardia, with the runway expected to remain closed until Friday as debris is cleared and investigations continue.
• Officials, including FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, emphasized the need for modernization and increased funding for air traffic control systems to enhance safety, while political leaders expressed condolences for the victims.