New York Governor Announces LaGuardia Closure Until 2pm After Fatal Crash
New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded to the crash at LaGuardia Airport on Monday morning, expressing condolences to the victims and their families. She confirmed that the airport would remain closed until 2pm local time.
"Heartbreaking news out of LaGuardia this morning. Two pilots were killed and dozens injured in this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected. The airport will remain closed until 2pm. We’ll continue to share updates as they become available."
Senate Stalls on Save America Act Amid Political Divisions
Following an unusual weekend session, the Senate has made minimal progress on passing the Save America Act, despite persistent pressure from former President Donald Trump and his right-wing allies.
The legislation aims to tighten voter registration requirements by mandating proof of citizenship and photo identification at polling places. However, it lacks the necessary support to pass, as Democrats oppose the bill and 60 votes are required to overcome the Senate filibuster. Republicans hold only 53 seats, making Democratic opposition a significant obstacle.
Trump continues to prioritize the bill, rejecting compromises with Democrats on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding that could ease airport security delays. He emphasized the bill's importance in a statement this morning.
"It is far more important than anything else we are doing in the Senate," Trump wrote.
Republicans appear disorganized regarding the bill. The only vote taken over the weekend was on an amendment by Senator Tommy Tuberville to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports, which failed along party lines. Attendance issues affected the vote, with 10 senators absent, including four Republicans. Senator Eric Schmitt introduced another amendment to ban mail-in voting and gender-affirming care for minors, but it has not yet been voted on.
Passing these amendments could complicate the bill’s approval, as any Senate changes must be accepted by the House, which the GOP controls by a narrow margin. It remains uncertain if far-right provisions will be acceptable to moderates ahead of the November midterm elections.
Given these challenges, the Senate’s passage of the bill appears unlikely.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Comments on LaGuardia Crash
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sorrow over the LaGuardia collision, highlighting cooperation between US and Canadian officials during the ongoing investigation.
"Deeply saddening," Carney wrote on X. "Canadian officials are working closely with their US counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected."
Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment at Airports Amid DHS Funding Freeze
On Monday, Donald Trump threatened to deploy National Guard troops to US airports if the congressional funding impasse for the Department of Homeland Security continued.
The threat coincided with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers being assigned to airports to compensate for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff shortages caused by the DHS funding deadlock.
"I’ll bring in the national guard," Trump told reporters after responding positively to Elon Musk’s offer to pay TSA workers’ salaries during the funding lapse.
"I’d love it. I think it’s great. Let him do that," he said regarding Musk’s proposal.
The potential National Guard deployment would represent a shift from the White House’s previous policy of federalizing guard troops in several Democrat-led cities, which ended after an adverse court ruling. National Guard forces remain deployed in Washington DC since August.
Trump also criticized former counter-terrorism official Joe Kent, who resigned last week over the Iran conflict.
"I’m not a fan of the guy," Trump said. "If you look at his truths [social posts] or his statements, he was all for everything. All of a sudden, he wasn’t.
"He was a man that I met at Dover. He came in. His wife was killed. He remarried fairly quickly, his wife was killed, and I felt badly for him.
"He ran for Congress and he lost. He ran for Congress again and he lost. I said, you know, he’s a guy, nice guy. Seemed like a very nice guy. I met him. He was pretty heartbroken, pretty but I said, you know, it’s a shame he ran for Congress twice, call him up, give him a job in the White House.
"They gave him a job in the White House, and this is what he does to me. You know, being a nice guy doesn’t pay off too much."
"I saw him a couple of times, but I never dealt with him at all. I had no idea his ideology was left or right, whatever it is. I can say this. He said very strongly that Iran is not a threat. Iran’s been a threat for 47 years, and there’s not a country in the world that doesn’t agree with me on that."
New York Mayor Briefed on LaGuardia Crash
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he has been briefed on the LaGuardia crash and remains in close contact with federal, state, and local officials.
Mamdani expressed gratitude to first responders for their swift actions that saved lives.
He noted that Air Canada has established a hotline for friends and families of affected passengers: 1-800-961-7099.
LaGuardia Airport remains closed, and the Port Authority advises travelers to check with their airlines for updated flight information before traveling to the airport.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Calls for Investigation Into LaGuardia Crash
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed sorrow over the LaGuardia crash that resulted in two fatalities and multiple injuries.
"I am heartbroken to learn of the tragic crash at LaGuardia this morning. Thank you to the brave first responders for their quick action, and I am praying for the passengers, crew, and their families. We need an immediate investigation into what happened here so we can make sure it never happens again."
Columbus Statue Installed at White House Amid Controversy
Separately, a statue of Christopher Columbus has been installed on the grounds of the White House as part of efforts to position the explorer as a foundational figure in US history.
The 13-foot, one-ton statue is a replica of a monument removed by protesters in Baltimore during the 2020 anti-racism demonstrations.
Travelers Express Frustration Over Long Lines at Atlanta Airport
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, security lines at 8am extended inside and outside the terminal, with wait times estimated at three to four hours as ICE agents arrived to assist with screening.
The partial DHS government shutdown has resulted in most TSA agents not receiving pay, causing staffing shortages and confusion for passengers and staff.
A passenger flying to Minnesota reported waiting since 6:20am in a line stretching to the passenger drop-off area.
"I asked someone, and they said they’re trying to kill this line that we’re in. I’ve been in it since about 6.20am," the passenger said.
Tom Healey of Alpharetta, attempting to catch a Louisville flight, described the situation as chaotic after waiting three hours by 8am.
"It’s total chaos," he said. "Look at what happened at LaGuardia. My wife’s got to fly out of that place. She was supposed to fly out of LaGuardia today. She’s got to go out of White Plains and then Washington DC, and then here. So it’s crazy."
Donald Trump deployed ICE agents to assist with passenger screening in Atlanta on Monday. Agents were observed unmasked in the terminal.
"According to federal officials, these personnel will be assigned to support operational needs directed by the Transportation Security Administration," said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. "Including line management and crowd control within the domestic terminals. Federal officials have indicated that this deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities."
For many travelers, this marks their first encounter with ICE agents in person, as the public typically does not interact with immigration enforcement officers.
Trump Orders ICE Agents to Forego Masks During Airport Deployments
Donald Trump stated that ICE agents deployed at airports should not wear masks.
ICE has faced criticism for agents concealing their identities during immigration raids, with state officials arguing that face coverings create fear and reduce accountability.
Democratic lawmakers have called for federal law enforcement officials to be prohibited from wearing face coverings.
On Monday, as ICE began airport deployments to assist with security, Trump wrote on Truth Social:
"I am a BIG proponent of ICE wearing masks as they search for, and are forced to deal with, hardened criminals, many of whom were let into our Country by Sleepy Joe Biden and his wonderful ‘Border Czar,’ Kamala (she never even went to the Border!), through their absolutely INSANE Open Border Policy.
I would greatly appreciate, however, NO MASKS, when helping our Country out of the Democrat caused MESS at the airports, etc. Thank you! President DJT"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly proposed funding DHS excluding ICE, a plan Democrats were prepared to accept. However, Trump rejected this proposal on Sunday.
Atlanta airport authorities warned that long lines persisted Monday morning due to TSA staffing shortages, advising travelers to arrive at least four hours before flights.
Trump’s Immigration Czar to Lead ICE Airport Deployment
Trump’s immigration czar, Tom Homan, announced on Sunday that ICE agents would be present at airports starting Monday.
Homan stated that ICE officers would support TSA by covering exits and managing crowds, allowing TSA agents to focus on screening duties.
"There’s TSA agents covering exits. People that enter through the exits. Certainly a highly trained ICE law enforcement officer can cover an exit, make sure people don’t go through those exits, enter an airport through the exits," Homan said on CNN.
"Stuff like that relieves that TSA officer to go to screening and to reduce those lines. I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that. There’s certain parts of security that TSA’s doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs and help them move those lines."
ICE Agents Deployed at US Airports Amid Partial Government Shutdown
ICE agents have been observed at several US airports following their deployment to assist with security lines during the partial government shutdown.
Immigration agents were spotted at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport and Louis Armstrong airport in New Orleans, Louisiana.
ICE agents are expected at 13 US airports to support security agents who have been working without pay since 14 February due to the shutdown caused by a dispute over federal immigration enforcement regulations.
Trump stated, "ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful [Transportation Security Administration] Agents who have stayed on the job despite" the shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the US air safety watchdog is investigating the crash and cooperating with the federal aviation authority.
Duffy paid tribute to the pilots killed in the crash, writing on social media:
"Our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia."
FAA Issues Ground Stop at Newark Airport Due to Elevator Fire Smell
On Monday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for arrivals and departures at Newark International Airport in New Jersey after reports of a burning smell prompted evacuation of the control tower.
The incident occurred around 7:30am ET, with the odor originating from an elevator, according to the FAA. The ground stop was expected to last until approximately 8:30am, causing delays at the major New York area airport.
Details of LaGuardia Collision and Aftermath
Photos revealed significant damage to the nose of the Air Canada Express plane, which was tilted upward. Emergency stairways were positioned at the aircraft’s emergency exits for passenger evacuation.
A fire vehicle involved in the collision was seen tipped onto its side. NBC News reported that a sergeant and an officer sustained broken limbs and were in stable condition at a hospital.
The fire truck had been responding to a United Airlines flight that declared an emergency due to an onboard odor. Controllers informed the aircraft that fire trucks were available on site.
The FAA stated that LaGuardia Airport would remain closed until 2pm on Monday to facilitate the investigation. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that 18 flights had been diverted to other airports, mostly in the New York area, or returned to their points of origin.
Pilot and Co-Pilot Killed in Air Canada Express Jet Collision at LaGuardia
The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed after the aircraft collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the airport’s closure.
Approximately 40 passengers and crew were transported to nearby hospitals, some with serious injuries. Most have since been discharged.
The crash occurred as a firefighting vehicle was responding to a separate incident, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which reported two employees injured while riding in the fire truck.
The Air Canada Express CRJ-900 plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, carried 72 passengers and four crew members, per an airline statement.
Radio transmissions captured an air traffic controller granting clearance for a vehicle to cross part of the runway, then urgently instructing it to stop. The controller then diverted incoming aircraft from landing.
Additional Context and Developments
The crash coincided with the Trump administration’s deployment of ICE agents to US airports to assist with security amid long lines and unpaid TSA staff due to the partial government shutdown.
The US Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments regarding whether states can count late-arriving mail ballots, a key issue targeted by Trump. The ruling, expected in June, could impact voters in 14 states and Washington DC, with potential effects on 15 additional states with more lenient deadlines ahead of the midterm elections.
Republican Senator could be confirmed as the new Homeland Security Secretary on Monday, expected to replace Kristi Noem, who was dismissed by Trump on 5 March.
