NTSB: LaGuardia runway safety system ‘did not alert’ ahead of collision

(The Center Square) — Federal investigators say an alert system at LaGuardia Airport failed to notify an Air Canada jet before it collided with a fire truck on the runway, according to a preliminary investigation.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board provided an update Tuesday afternoon on its preliminary investigation into the collision between the Air Canada jet and a Port Authority airport vehicle on a runway late Sunday, which killed two pilots, injured dozens of passengers and prompted the airport to shut down.

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said LaGuardia has a runway safety system allowing air traffic controllers to track surface movement of planes and vehicles, but said the system “did not alert” prior to the collision.

She said the ASDE-X, a surveillance system at the airport using radar and other technology, didn’t sound an alarm due to the “close proximity” of vehicles merging on the runway.

“Air traffic controllers should know what’s before them, whet...