LaGuardia runway reopens as bodies of pilots are set to fly back to Canada

The final signs of Sunday’s deadly plane crash have been cleared, allowing LaGuardia Airport to reopen the runway where an Air Canada plane and a fire struck collided.

A plane was spotted taking off from the runway late Thursday morning, less than a day after the remaining wreckage was removed by investigators for further inspection. The airport development comes on the same day the bodies of the two pilots killed are expected to be flown back to their home country of Canada.

“As of 9:58am, Runway 4/22 has reopened at LaGuardia Airport. Since the removal of the plane and truck late Wednesday, the runway and associated infrastructure has been repaired, inspected, and confirmed to meet FAA regulations for safe operation,” a Port Authority spokesperson said Thursday.

“The reopening of Runway 4/22 will help restore full operational capacity at LaGuardia, though travelers are still encouraged to check with their airline for flight status.”

Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking access to one of two runways at one of the country’s busiest airports.

Just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, airport workers began towing the remnants away. Two big tow trucks working in tandem also righted the badly damaged fire truck, which had been laying on its side since the crash.

The jet’s tail end was lifted onto a large dolly, which was then towed via long tethers by two vehicles driving side by side. Earlier in the day, much of the wreckage of the nose, which was obliterated in the collision, was cut away by work crews. As it was towed, the middle of the plane was supported by its own landing gear, which appeared to be intact.

Air Canada confirmed six people were still in the hospital Tuesday evening as a result of the runway crash at LaGuardia Airport. The NTSB is looking into why there was no warning leading up to the deadly crash. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff reports.

In a statement, Air Canada said the plane would be taken to a hangar. The airline said it would soon begin the process of reuniting people with baggage and personal belongings.

After the collision, many onboard managed to escape the damaged aircraft, including a flight attendant who survived after being thrown onto the tarmac while still strapped in her seat.

The two pilots have been identified as Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forest. At least one passenger, Clément Lelièvre, credited their “incredible reflexes” in saving his life and those of others, noting they braked extremely hard just as the plane touched down.

The two Port Authority Police Department firefighters in the truck survived.