NTSB: Airport Truck Missed Warnings Before Fatal LaGuardia Collision

Early findings highlight moment of confusion before fatal accident.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, April 24, 2026 at 02:43 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrive at LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4 following the fatal collision between a passenger jet and fire truck. [Credit: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary report on the LaGuardia ground collision revealed that the fire truck crew did not realize initial air traffic control "stop" commands were directed at them.
A significant factor contributing to the collision was that the airport's runway entrance lights (RELs), designed to prevent runway incursions, were turned off.
The collision between the fire truck and a CRJ-900 airplane resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to 39 people, six of whom sustained serious injuries.

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The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the deadly ground collision between an airport fire truck and a CRJ-900 airplane at LaGuardia Airport (KLGA) in March reveals the occupants of the truck did not realize that an air traffic controller’s frantic orders to stop were directed at them.

In addition, the airport’s runway entrance lights (REL) were turned off.