Two pilots were killed after an Air Canada passenger jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport, officials have confirmed.
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Air Canada’s regional partner Jazz Aviation, struck a vehicle belonging to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey shortly before midnight on Sunday.
The flight had arrived from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, according to preliminary figures.
Federal Aviation Administration officials stated that all flights to and from LaGuardia have been suspended until at least 2 PM local time while emergency crews and investigators work at the scene. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot died in the collision.
Ground collision involving an Air Canada flight and Port Authority crash truck, causing two confirmed deaths, over 60 injuries, and immediate runway closure with mass casualty protocols activated.pic.twitter.com/EXiqKf70jp
— MAGA Lorrie Ann 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇸 AMERICA FIRST (@LorrieAnn25) March 23, 2026
“At approximately 11:40 PM last night, Air Canada flight 8646 collided with an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle on Runway 4,” she said. At least 41 passengers and crew members were taken to the hospital, with 32 later discharged. Several others remain seriously injured.
Emergency services, including the New York City Fire Department, responded within minutes, deploying around 40 firefighters to the scene. Authorities stated that emergency protocols were immediately activated following the crash.
The cause of the collision remains unclear. The FAA has launched an investigation, while Port Authority police continue to secure the area.
LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the United States, handling more than 30 million passengers a year, is expected to remain disrupted as officials work to determine how this fatal accident occurred.
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