A newly surfaced air traffic control recording is shedding light on the final moments before a runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, revealing how quickly a routine situation turned into a crisis.

The audio begins calmly, with controllers issuing standard instructions to a ground vehicle: “Truck 1 and Company… cross Runway 4 at Delta.” Everything appears normal at first.

Seconds later, the tone shifts dramatically. The controller urgently shouts, “Stop, stop, stop, stop! Truck 1, stop!” signaling immediate danger.

At the same time, nearby aircraft receive rapid instructions. One flight is told to hold position, another to go around, while controllers declare the runway—and soon the entire airport—closed.

Moments later comes confirmation: the aircraft has collided with a vehicle. The plane involved was an Air Canada-operated Bombardier CRJ900 arriving from Montreal with around 80 to 100 passengers.

Reports indicate the jet was taxiing at about 24 mph when it struck a fire truck that had been cleared to cross the runway, suggesting a breakdown in timing or communication.

At least four people were critically injured, including two Port Authority police officers assigned to firefighting duties. Early, unconfirmed reports have also raised concerns about possible pilot fatalities.

Following the incident, the FAA halted operations at LaGuardia, diverting flights to nearby airports. Investigators are now examining what went wrong, as the recording captures how quickly control can be lost.