‘Stop, truck one, stop!’: Air traffic controller pleads moments before Air Canada jet collision

A traffic controller cleared a truck to cross the runway and then urgently ordered it to halt, a recording showed. Read more at straitstimes.com.

NEW YORK - Moments before an Air Canada Express plane collided with a firetruck on the runway of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, a traffic controller cleared the truck to cross the runway and then urgently ordered it to halt, a recording showed.

The collision on the night of March 22 killed the pilot and co-pilot, and 41 people on board were taken to the hospital, officials said.

The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, struck the firetruck on Runway 4 at around 11.40pm as the truck drove to a separate incident.

Below is a transcript of the exchange:

Driver: “Truck one and company, LaGuardia Tower. Requesting to cross four at Delta.”

Controller: “Truck one and company, cross four at Delta.”