Hochul also thanked Duffy and Mamdani for their cooperation and presence.

“I’m grateful also to Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford for coming right here on this day,” she said. “It’s important to have your presence to know that this will be addressed at the highest levels, and also support from the mayor, who represents many of the people who work here, as I do.”

Mamdani stressed the high level of cooperation that surrounded the investigation and recovery.

“I want New Yorkers to know that the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of this accident, and that we will not rest until the conclusion of that investigation. We have been coordinating closely with our partners across government since late last night, and we will continue to do so,” he said.

At around 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, an Air Canada plane collided with a Port Authority fire truck with 72 passengers on board. The two pilots were killed, the only fatalities, and 40 people were hospitalized. Several of those hospitalized have since been released.

TWO DEAD IN AIRPLANE COLLISION AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY

The collision was the first fatal crash at Laguardia Airport in 34 years.

Duffy downplayed speculation as to what was behind the crash. He said a lack of funding for air traffic controllers, which he had requested from Congress, wouldn’t have prevented the crash, and that reports that only one ATC was in the tower at the time of the crash weren’t accurate.

LaGuardia is expected to be staffed by about 37 ATCs. They have 33 on staff, which Duffy framed as a good number. They are working on training seven more.

Duffy has been a vocal proponent about increasing the number of ATCs in the U.S. in the face of various aviation incidents and airport disruptions.

Hochul said airport workers are facing “tremendous stress” in recent days, alluding to the TSA staffing shortages caused by the DHS funding stalemate in Congress. TSA officers have been working without pay since the partial shutdown began in February. As of Monday, over 40% of officers were calling out in some airports. Last week, officials warned that some smaller airports may have to be closed until funding is restored.

OVER 400 TSA OFFICERS HAVE QUIT SINCE BEGINNING OF SHUTDOWN, DHS SAYS

Officials did not blame the shutdown for the crash and emphasized that the NTSB would publish its initial findings about the cause shortly.

Duffy said a United Airlines flight experienced an aborted takeoff Sunday morning, which is where the emergency vehicle that was struck on the runway was headed.