LaGuardia plane crash: Runway reopens after mangled aircraft, truck removed

The chief executive of Air Canada is apologizing for not being able to express himself adequately in French in a video message of condolence he released after the deadly plane crash in New York on Sunday.

Michael Rousseau has been criticized for the four-minute video posted online that only included two French words - "bonjour" and "merci."

One of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport was a French-speaking Quebecer.

Canada's largest airline is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language.

Rousseau has been criticized for not speaking French previously.

He delivered his condolence video message in English, with French subtitles.

The runway is back open at LaGuardia after the plane and fire truck were removed on Wednesday. Port Authority said the runway was repaired, inspected and meets FAA regulations.

The full statement from Port Authority says:

"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.

"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.

"The Port Authority remains fully engaged with the ongoing NTSB investigation."

Lauren Glassberg has the latest on the runway reopening at LaGuardia.

Investigators on Thursday will conduct interviews with at least one of the two police officers that was in grave danger inside the Port Authority firetruck that collided with the Air Canada plane at LaGuardia Airport.

Meantime, questions over staffing and safety systems at LGA intensify. NTSB has completed their examination of the wreckage following the deadly crash on site, and has turned over the jet to Air Canada.

Crews worked through the night to remove the wreckage of the jet and the Port Authority firetruck that collided on Sunday night.

The firetruck had been cleared to cross the runway just seconds before the collision by an air traffic controller.

The bodies of the pilots killed in the crash were scheduled to be flown home in a dignified transfer on an Air Canada plane departing from Newark Liberty Airport Wednesday night.

Phil Taitt reports from LaGuardia Airport.

The bodies of the pilot and co-pilot killed in the crash will be flown home in a dignified transfer on an Air Canada plane departing from Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday night.

The bodies were released from the Medical Examiner's office to a Queens funeral home after autopsies determined both men died of blunt force injuries.