Originally wrote this as reports were starting to come in of an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 flight from Montreal, AC 8646, colliding with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. There are reports of at least two fatalities, and multiple serious injuries on the part of the fire truck. Limited information is available at this time, but will update if more information arrives.
Update: 24 Hours After the Incident, we know a lot more than we did. LaGuardia was closed all of the morning as part of the investigation. From what it appears, both the truck and the plane were cleared to be where they were, leaving the investigation focused on the air traffic controllers, who frantically tried to stop the fire truck once they realized that disaster was imminent. The two pilots of the aircraft did not survive the accident, which destroyed the cockpit, and several passengers remain in serious condition.
Runways and taxiways are some of the most monitored spaces in the world. Due to the danger posed by airplanes laden with jet fuel traveling at high speeds, there are some very clear rules for these movements. Runway incursions, where an aircraft enters the runway when not cleared to do so, are regrettably not uncommon and have led to some disaster or near disasters.
Aircraft ground collisions happen when two aircraft collide while taxiing, parked, or otherwise moving on the airport surface rather than in the air. These incidents usually occur during taxi operations and are most often linked to airport congestion, low visibility, ground control miscommunication, or pilot navigation mistakes.
On March 3 of this year, a jet at Boston’s Logan airport aborted takeoff after another plane crossed its path in a snow squall. Fortunately, in this case, like in many others, the pilots were able to see and avoid near disaster, but this is not always the case. Runway incursions are much more frequent than they should be.
In 2001, at Milan’s Linate Airport, a SAS aircraft collided on takeoff with a business jet in heavy fog. The investigation determined a series of significant negligence.
- Guidance markings and signage were so badly worn as to be unreadable
- Ground radar had been decommissioned two years earlier as part of a replacement that had not yet been installed
- Runway incursion alarms had been turned off to prevent false alarms from wildlife
- The directions given by the controller used terms that did not match signage or charts.
In 1991, a US Air plane landed on a Skywest plane awaiting its takeoff at LAX airport, due to the failure of controllers to account for the position of all involved aircraft.
Aviation safety incidents sometimes become defining moments in airline history, such as the tragedy of PSA Flight 182, which remains one of the most significant midair collisions in U.S. aviation.
And the most infamous, the March 1977 Tenerife disaster, where a 747 hit another 747 taxiing across the runway after starting its takeoff roll without proper clearance.
All of the above are instances of two aircraft involved in a collision. This was an arriving plane hitting a ground vehicle, specifically a fire truck. However, ground vehicles must get permission from the tower to cross an active runway and personnel are trained appropriately to follow these rules, so the question we will have to wait and see who was not supposed to be where they were, and how they got to be there in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aircraft Ground Collisions
What is an aircraft ground collision?
An aircraft ground collision occurs when two aircraft strike each other while taxiing, parked, or moving on airport surfaces rather than during flight. These incidents typically happen on taxiways or ramps at busy airports.
How common are aircraft ground collisions?
Ground collisions are relatively rare but occur more frequently than in-flight collisions because of the complexity of airport ground operations, especially at large and congested airports.
What usually causes aircraft ground collisions?
Most ground collisions involve a combination of factors such as limited visibility, taxiway confusion, communication errors between pilots and air traffic control, or congestion during peak airport operations.
Are passengers usually injured in ground collisions?
Most aircraft ground collisions occur at low speeds and rarely cause serious injuries, but they can still result in aircraft damage, flight delays, and costly operational disruptions. Unfortunately in this crash, the aircraft was moving quickly when it hit the fire truck and was projected upward, mangling the cockpit as it slammed into the ground, killing the pilot and copilot and inuring many aboard, some critically.
