Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford held a press conference Monday afternoon on the collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express plane and fire truck.

The collision resulted in the death of two pilots and dozens injured.

Duffy and Bedford were joined by Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Duffy said an Air Canada plane arriving from Montreal on Runway 4 collided with a Port Authority firetruck Sunday at 11:45 p.m. Both pilots were killed and over 40 people were sent to the hospital.

Bedford said they have been in contact with Air Canada and Jazz Aviation. He added that weather conditions at the time of the crash were moderate but that there was mist and fog. He said the Port Authority firetruck was responding to a situation on a United Airlines plane when the collision occurred.

Bedford stressed that the FAA is fully committed to the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation.

Garcia said the Port Authority works with its partners to ensure the safety of passengers. She said that the collision was the first fatal incident in 34 years at LaGuardia.

She said a fire crewman is expected to be released later on Monday, while another will remain for observation.

Garcia said the airport reopened to passengers at 5:30 a.m. and the first flight departed after 2 p.m.

Hochul conveyed condolences and said that her administration is cognizant of the impact the collision had on LaGuardia and Port Authority.

She vowed that New York state will offer its full cooperation in the investigation.

Mamdani thanked partners in the state and federal government for their help.

He praised crews for their quick response to the scene, as well as passengers who took action to help others who were impacted.

Mamdani said that Air Canada set up a hotline so that people can get in contact with loved ones who may have been involved in the incident.

Mamdani said his team will continue to share new information as they get it.

Duffy added that when incidents like these happen, politics fade away and people come together.

When asked whether staffing played a part in the incident, Duffy said LaGuardia has a target of 37 controllers, with 33 of them being certified controllers and six others currently in training.

Duffy said LaGuardia is well staffed, but still faces shortages only by a couple of people.

Duffy also pointed out that here is a lag time between training of air traffic controllers and when they are fully operational.

He also said that air traffic controllers who are about to retire are asked not to do so, and they're offered a 20% bump in pay so that they will stay.

Duffy said the FAA has great working relationship with NTSB and is fully committed to working together in the investigation.

AP Wire Services contributed to this story.