An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, killing two people and injuring several others. The incident forced officials to close one of the nation’s busiest airports as investigators began their work.
The Collision
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, struck an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle at approximately 11:45 p.m. on March 23, 2026. The jet had just completed its landing on Runway 4 after departing from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
As reported by ALO360, the impact crushed the nose of the plane and left the cockpit severely damaged. Photos from the scene showed cables and debris hanging from the mangled front section of the aircraft. The damaged fire truck lay on its side near the runway.
Casualties and Injuries
Two people died in the collision. A person familiar with the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an active investigation, confirmed that the pilot and copilot were killed. The New York City medical examiner took custody of the bodies.
Two Port Authority employees who were traveling in the fire truck also sustained injuries. Additionally, more than a dozen passengers suffered varying degrees of injuries. Some of those passengers were taken to Elmhurst and Queens Presbyterian hospitals for treatment.
The Passengers and Crew
Jazz Aviation issued a statement confirming the accident. The airline reported that 72 passengers and four crew members were on board Flight 8646. The company noted that these figures were preliminary and subject to confirmation.
Stairways were pushed up to the emergency exits to evacuate passengers from the damaged jet. The impact left the aircraft with its crumpled nose tilted upward on the runway.
Air Traffic Control Audio
In the moments before the crash, an air traffic controller attempted to prevent the collision. A radio transmission captured the controller giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then immediately trying to stop it.
“Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” the transmission recorded. The controller then frantically diverted incoming aircraft from landing on the occupied runway.
The Response
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey stated that the fire truck was responding to a separate incident when the collision occurred. A spokesperson said, “Emergency response protocols were immediately activated.”
The Port Authority Police Department responded to the scene along with the agency’s chairman and executive director. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it was investigating the crash.
Airport Closure
Officials closed LaGuardia Airport at 3:16 a.m. to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert stating there would be no flights into or out of the airport until 2 p.m. on Monday.
The New York Police Department advised travelers to avoid the area. “Due to an emergency incident at LaGuardia Airport, all streets and highway exits into the airport are closed until further notice. Expect delays and avoid the area if possible,” the NYPD posted on X.
