LaGuardia Airport runway collision as Air Canada Express plane hits fire truck, killing two pilots and prompting investigation
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Mar 23, 2026, 20:12 IST
Two pilots killed, 41 injured as Air Canada flight hits fire rescue vehicle at LaGuardia Airport
A devastating accident unfolded at LaGuardia Airport as an Air Canada Express aircraft collided with a fire rescue vehicle. Tragically, both the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives in the impact. The airport was shut down, triggering extensive travel disruptions and uncertainty for flyers. Aviation safety boards have launched investigations to understand the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.
LaGuardia Airport was closed Monday after an Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority fire rescue vehicle on the runway Sunday night, killing the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. as the plane, Air Canada Express flight 8646, was landing. Preliminary analysis indicates the jet collided with the fire truck at approximately 104 miles per hour. Forty-one passengers and crew were taken to the hospital, with 32 later released. The fire truck was responding to another aircraft that had reported an odor.
The busy airport remained closed at least until 2 p.m. ET on Monday, contributing to travel disruptions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a team to investigate the collision, with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada also deploying an investigative team. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a team to support the NTSB investigation.
The collision involved Air Canada Express flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation. The aircraft originated from Montreal and was carrying approximately 72 passengers and four crew members, though this was subject to confirmation. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the deaths of the pilot and first officer.
The ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting) vehicle involved was operated by the Port Authority Police Department. Officers assigned to ARFF are certified by the FAA and are specially trained to respond to aircraft fires. In this crash, the ARFF vehicle carried two officers who were hospitalized in stable condition.
Air traffic control communications are expected to be a part of the NTSB's probe. Audio recordings captured an exchange where the air traffic controller appeared to say, "I messed up." The controller had cleared the fire truck to cross the runway to assist a plane on the other side of the airport that reported a smell after aborting a takeoff due to a warning light. Prior to the crash, the controller was heard frantically trying to stop the truck from crossing the runway, saying, "Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop truck 1. Stop." Other aircraft were then directed to abort landings and "go around" as the runway was closed.
The Air Line Pilots Association called the incident a "profound tragedy." Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president, stated, "The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy. These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time." The union's accident investigation team is heading to assist the NTSB.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed he had been briefed on the collision and expressed gratitude to first responders. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also stated she would share updates on the situation. Air Canada provided a hotline for friends and families seeking information: 1-800-961-7099.
Preliminary analysis of flight tracking data showed the plane was decelerating upon touchdown but collided with the firefighting vehicle at about 90 knots, or 104 miles per hour. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean noted, "This was not some sort of fender bender at the airport between a vehicle and an airplane. This was a high-speed collision." He added, "Really symptomatic of an aviation system that is bursting at the seams right now. Air traffic controllers are overworked, often working six-day weeks of 10-hour shifts." The LaGuardia control tower is rated as one of the FAA's highest-level, most complex facilities.
Passengers at LaGuardia Airport were seen camping out in Terminal B as they waited for the airport to reopen. One passenger, Jack Cabot, described the incident to CNN: "We went down for a regular landing; we came in pretty hard. We immediately hit something and it was just chaos in there." He added, "About five seconds later we had come to a stop. In that short period, I mean, everybody was hunkered down and everybody was screaming pretty quickly." He also noted, "We didn’t have any directions because the pilot’s cabin had been kind of destroyed, so somebody said, let’s get the emergency exit and get the door and let’s all jump out and that’s exactly what we did."
The collision bears similarities to a January 2025 midair collision over Washington, D.C., according to CNN aviation analyst Peter Goelz. Federal officials have previously warned about the system being under pressure, with the FAA launching a review of controller fatigue in April 2024 due to a string of close calls. The agency has since required more time off between shifts, though industry data indicates many controllers still work overtime.
The FAA has lifted a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport following an earlier incident that prompted a tower evacuation due to a burning smell from an elevator. This incident at Newark occurred while LaGuardia remained closed due to the deadly collision.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been observed at various U.S. airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, supplementing security presence and monitoring crowds. This comes amid reports of long security wait times at some airports, partly due to TSA call-outs. TSA employees are considered essential workers and must remain on duty during the partial government shutdown, even without pay. The TSA's budget is partly funded by a September 11 Security Fee.
The busy airport remained closed at least until 2 p.m. ET on Monday, contributing to travel disruptions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a team to investigate the collision, with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada also deploying an investigative team. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a team to support the NTSB investigation.
The collision involved Air Canada Express flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation. The aircraft originated from Montreal and was carrying approximately 72 passengers and four crew members, though this was subject to confirmation. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the deaths of the pilot and first officer.
The ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting) vehicle involved was operated by the Port Authority Police Department. Officers assigned to ARFF are certified by the FAA and are specially trained to respond to aircraft fires. In this crash, the ARFF vehicle carried two officers who were hospitalized in stable condition.
Air traffic control communications are expected to be a part of the NTSB's probe. Audio recordings captured an exchange where the air traffic controller appeared to say, "I messed up." The controller had cleared the fire truck to cross the runway to assist a plane on the other side of the airport that reported a smell after aborting a takeoff due to a warning light. Prior to the crash, the controller was heard frantically trying to stop the truck from crossing the runway, saying, "Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop truck 1. Stop." Other aircraft were then directed to abort landings and "go around" as the runway was closed.
The Air Line Pilots Association called the incident a "profound tragedy." Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president, stated, "The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy. These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time." The union's accident investigation team is heading to assist the NTSB.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed he had been briefed on the collision and expressed gratitude to first responders. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also stated she would share updates on the situation. Air Canada provided a hotline for friends and families seeking information: 1-800-961-7099.
Preliminary analysis of flight tracking data showed the plane was decelerating upon touchdown but collided with the firefighting vehicle at about 90 knots, or 104 miles per hour. CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean noted, "This was not some sort of fender bender at the airport between a vehicle and an airplane. This was a high-speed collision." He added, "Really symptomatic of an aviation system that is bursting at the seams right now. Air traffic controllers are overworked, often working six-day weeks of 10-hour shifts." The LaGuardia control tower is rated as one of the FAA's highest-level, most complex facilities.
Passengers at LaGuardia Airport were seen camping out in Terminal B as they waited for the airport to reopen. One passenger, Jack Cabot, described the incident to CNN: "We went down for a regular landing; we came in pretty hard. We immediately hit something and it was just chaos in there." He added, "About five seconds later we had come to a stop. In that short period, I mean, everybody was hunkered down and everybody was screaming pretty quickly." He also noted, "We didn’t have any directions because the pilot’s cabin had been kind of destroyed, so somebody said, let’s get the emergency exit and get the door and let’s all jump out and that’s exactly what we did."
The collision bears similarities to a January 2025 midair collision over Washington, D.C., according to CNN aviation analyst Peter Goelz. Federal officials have previously warned about the system being under pressure, with the FAA launching a review of controller fatigue in April 2024 due to a string of close calls. The agency has since required more time off between shifts, though industry data indicates many controllers still work overtime.
The FAA has lifted a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport following an earlier incident that prompted a tower evacuation due to a burning smell from an elevator. This incident at Newark occurred while LaGuardia remained closed due to the deadly collision.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been observed at various U.S. airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, supplementing security presence and monitoring crowds. This comes amid reports of long security wait times at some airports, partly due to TSA call-outs. TSA employees are considered essential workers and must remain on duty during the partial government shutdown, even without pay. The TSA's budget is partly funded by a September 11 Security Fee.