New York, NY – A collision between an Air Canada regional jet and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, March 23, 2026, resulted in the deaths of the pilots and injuries to dozens, prompting a temporary shutdown of the airport. The incident underscores the potential for disruption – and associated financial impacts – within the air travel sector.
The Air Canada flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, struck the fire truck although landing at approximately 11:30 p.m., according to officials. Both pilots onboard the aircraft were killed. The flight originated in Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
At least 41 people on the plane and two members of the fire truck crew were transported to hospitals, with some sustaining serious injuries. Two Port Authority police officers, a sergeant and an officer, suffered broken bones but are expected to recover. More than a dozen passengers were taken to Elmhurst Hospital or Queens Presbyterian Hospital.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the Air Canada flight. Preliminary data indicates the plane was traveling between 93 and 105 mph at the moment of impact, according to FlightRadar24.
Antoine Forest has been identified by his family as one of the pilots who died in the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Audio recordings released reveal a voice repeatedly telling a vehicle to “stop” before the collision occurred. One passenger described feeling a “hard stop” just before impact, noting that everything appeared normal prior to the event.
LaGuardia Airport was closed for more than 12 hours following the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board is inspecting the wreckage to determine the sequence of events and contributing factors. The investigation is ongoing.
