Two Pilots Dead After Air Canada Flight Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport
Fresh York – Two pilots died Sunday night when an Air Canada Express flight collided with a fire truck while taxiing at LaGuardia Airport, officials reported. The incident, which occurred on March 22, 2026, also left dozens injured and prompted the temporary closure of the airport. The crash highlights the inherent risks of airport operations and raises questions about ground safety protocols.
According to reports, Air Canada Express flight AC8646, a CRJ-900 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal when it struck a fire truck on the tarmac at approximately 11:38 p.m. Local time. The plane’s nose sustained significant damage, and the aircraft came to rest in an upright, but angled position. Images circulating on social media show the damaged aircraft with its nose lifted.
The pilots, who were at the front of the aircraft, were pronounced dead at the scene. NBC News reported that several first responders were also injured, including a police sergeant and officer who sustained broken limbs. Both are currently hospitalized in stable condition.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates the aircraft was traveling at approximately 24 miles per hour (39 kilometers per hour) at the time of impact. Audio recordings from air traffic control reveal a series of communications leading up to the collision. The fire truck had initially been granted permission to cross the runway, but controllers subsequently issued multiple urgent requests for the vehicle to stop, which were ultimately unsuccessful.
Authorities immediately instructed incoming flights to divert to other airports, and the involved aircraft was instructed to remain in place. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the airport was expected to remain closed until 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, March 23, 2026, with at least 18 flights diverted to other New York-area airports or returning to their origin points.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stated that the fire truck was en route to respond to another incident when it was struck on runway 4. The incident remains under investigation.
