TWO pilots have been killed after a passenger jet ploughed into a fire truck on a rain-soaked runway.

The Air Canada Express plane smashed into the emergency vehicle just before midnight as it landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, sparking chaos and a full shutdown of the busy travel hub.

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An Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia AirportCredit: Reuters
 

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Four people were injured, including two police officers, the pilot, and co-pilotCredit: Reuters
 

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Several emergency teams rushed to the scene with the fire truck flipped onto its sideCredit: Reuters
Sources confirmed both pilots onboard the Bombardier CRJ-900 jet dioed from their injuries after the horror smash.

Two Port Authority cops on the fire truck were also seriously injured, suffering broken bone but expected to survive.

And a female flight attendant was ejected through the front of the aircraft while still strapped to her seat, but miraculously survived.

Officers at the scene pulled her to safety before she was rushed to hospital.

Flight 8646 – operated by regional carrier Jazz – had taken off from Montreal shortly after 10.30pm and landed around an hour later before the collision.

Harrowing images show the plane’s nose completely obliterated and the aircraft pitched upwards, while the fire truck was left mangled and flipped onto its side.

Debris was strewn across the runway as emergency crews flooded the scene within minutes.

Carrying 72 passengers and four crew onboard, the jet collided with the fire truck on Runway 4 at about 30mph as it neared the end of its landing.

The plane is believed to have been carrying a group of Orthodox Jewish passengers from the New York area.

Their conditions are still being assessed, but no passenger deaths have been reported.

The fire truck was manned by officers from the Port Authority Police Department’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit – the specialist team that responds to aviation emergencies.

The vehicle had been responding to a separate incident and had been cleared to cross the runway.

Emergency services swarmed the scene as the scale of the incident became clear, with the FDNY rushing to reports of a “plane and vehicle” crash at around 11.38pm.

Air traffic control audio captured the terrifying moment officials realised what had happened.

An air traffic controller is heard saying: “JAZZ 646, I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position. I know you can’t move. Vehicles are responding to you now.”

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The jet sits on the runway after the late-night incidentCredit: AP
 

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Debris hangs from a damaged Air Canada Express jetCredit: Reuters
The cause of the smash is still unclear, with investigators scrambling to piece together what went wrong.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information, while the Federal Aviation Administration has launched a probe.

The FAA also ordered an immediate ground stop, shutting down all flights in and out of LaGuardia as the emergency unfolded.

Officials warned of major disruption, with flights cancelled, diverted or delayed and roads around the airport clogged with emergency vehicles.

The crash came after hours of heavy rain swept across New York City, leaving water visible on the tarmac.

But it is not yet known if weather played a role.

Earlier in the evening, the airport had warned that “rainy and cloudy weather could disrupt operations.”

Authorities have yet to confirm exactly how the disaster unfolded.

The airport remains closed as investigations continue.

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Planes sit at gates after a ground stoppage was issued at La Guardia airport