A PASSENGER jet ploughed into a fire truck on a rain-soaked runway, leaving at least four people injured and grounding all flights.
The Air Canada Express plane smashed into the emergency vehicle just before midnight as it landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, sparking chaos and a full shutdown of the busy travel hub.
At least four people were hurt in the crash, including two Port Authority cops who suffered broken bones.
The pilot and co-pilot were also badly injured, according to sources.
Flight 8646 – operated by regional carrier Jazz – had taken off from Montreal shortly after 10.30pm and landed around an hour later before the collision.
Shocking images from the scene showed the nose of the Bombardier CRJ-900 jet crumpled and the aircraft tilted upwards as emergency crews flooded the runway.
The plane – carrying around 76 passengers and four crew onboard – collided with the fire truck on Runway 4 at about 30mph as it neared the end of its landing.
No passengers are believed to have been seriously hurt.
The fire truck was manned by officers from the Port Authority Police Department’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit – the specialist team that responds to aviation emergencies.
Emergency services swarmed the scene as the scale of the incident became clear, with the FDNY rushing to reports of a “plane and vehicle” crash at around 11.38pm.
Air traffic control audio captured the terrifying moment officials realised what had happened.
An air traffic controller is heard saying: “JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can’t move. Vehicles are responding to you now.”
The cause of the smash is still unclear, with investigators scrambling to piece together what went wrong.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information, while the Federal Aviation Administration has launched a probe.
The FAA also ordered an immediate ground stop, shutting down all flights in and out of LaGuardia as the emergency unfolded.
Officials warned of major disruption, with flights cancelled, diverted or delayed and roads around the airport clogged with emergency vehicles.
The crash came after hours of heavy rain swept across New York City, leaving water visible on the tarmac.
But it is not yet known if weather played a role.
Earlier in the evening, the airport had warned that “rainy and cloudy weather could disrupt operations.”
Authorities have yet to confirm exactly how the disaster unfolded.
The airport remains closed as investigations continue.
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