Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers injured late Sunday when an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport, triggering a full airport shutdown and massive travel disruptions that are cascading across the country — including for San Diego-area travelers hoping to fly east for spring break.

The pilot and copilot died in the late-night collision, which crushed the nose of a Jazz Aviation aircraft operating on behalf of Air Canada and arriving from Montreal, officials said. Around 40 passengers and crew members were taken to area hospitals; most have since been released. Two Port Authority employees in the fire truck suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening, said Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

LaGuardia Airport remained closed through at least 2 p.m. Monday to facilitate an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. The closure also affected Newark Liberty International Airport in neighboring New Jersey, where air traffic controllers briefly evacuated the tower. The layered shutdowns hit during one of the year's heaviest travel weeks.

For Santee and East County residents flying to the East Coast this spring break, the disruptions are compounding an already strained air travel environment. TSA officer shortages — the result of ongoing federal funding gaps — have already pushed security wait times higher at San Diego International Airport and airports nationwide in recent days. Travelers with flights connecting through New York-area airports should check with their airline for rebooking options.

The NTSB is leading the investigation into what caused the fire truck to cross the runway. Radio transmissions from the moments before the crash reveal an air traffic controller clearing the truck, then desperately trying to stop it as the inbound jet descended. The investigation could take months.