Eyewitness images circulating online show the plane's nose and cockpit virtually destroyed. Both pilots have died, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) confirms.
In addition, about 40 people from the plane and the ground vehicle were taken to hospitals, according to NBC News. Most of them have already been discharged, but some are reported to have serious injuries.
The Air Canada plane, which was flying from Montreal, Canada, crashed into a larger vehicle, a fire and rescue truck that was reportedly on its way to a separate incident when it collided with the aircraft.
72 passengers plus four crew members were on board, according to Jazz Aviation, which flew the plane on behalf of Air Canada.
All air traffic to and from LaGuardia has been halted, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced. The airport, located in Queens, east of Manhattan, will remain closed until at least 7 p.m. local time in Sweden.
