Two Pilots Killed, Dozens Injured After Air Canada Jet Collides With Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on March 22, 2026, when the Bombardier CRJ-900 (Flight 8646 from Montréal) struck the fire truck after landing on Runway 4. The truck had been responding to a separate incident on the airfield.
RWTNews Staff
Two pilots were killed and more than 40 others injured when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on a runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on March 22, 2026, when the Bombardier CRJ-900 (Flight 8646 from Montréal) struck the fire truck after landing on Runway 4. The truck had been responding to a separate incident on the airfield. The collision happened at low speed, around 24 mph.
The two pilots died at the scene. Forty-one passengers, crew members, and first responders were transported to area hospitals; 32 have since been released, while others sustained serious injuries.
The airport was immediately closed, halting all arrivals and departures. A ground stop was issued, causing widespread flight delays and diversions across the New York region. LaGuardia remained shut down until early Monday afternoon as emergency crews cleared the scene and investigators worked.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation and sent a go-team to the site. The Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are also involved.
Air Canada and its regional partner Jazz Aviation confirmed the flight was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The airline set up a family assistance line and said it is cooperating fully with authorities. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed the deaths and ongoing response efforts.
No cause has been determined. Officials noted the fire truck was on the runway for a legitimate emergency response when the collision occurred. The incident is the latest in a series of ground accidents at LaGuardia, which has faced scrutiny over its tight layout and high traffic volume.
LaGuardia serves more than 30 million passengers annually and is one of the busiest airports in the Northeast. The closure disrupted thousands of travelers during peak spring break season.
The crash is under active investigation, with preliminary reports expected in the coming weeks.