March 23, 2026 Team Contibutor
NEW YORK — Two pilots have died following a collision between an Air Canada Express aircraft and an airport vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, an incident that has triggered a major investigation and widespread travel disruptions.
The crash occurred late Sunday as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, arriving from Montreal, collided with a Port Authority fire and rescue vehicle on the runway while landing.
Authorities confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the collision, while dozens of others were injured.
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time.
Dozens Injured, Emergency Response Launched
Emergency crews responded quickly to the scene, with more than 40 people transported to hospital, including passengers and personnel from the airport vehicle.
Officials said the fire truck had been responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft when it entered the runway.
Despite the severity of the collision, most of those injured were later released, although several individuals remained in hospital with more serious injuries.
Airport Shutdown Causes Major Disruptions
Following the incident, LaGuardia Airport was temporarily shut down, forcing the cancellation and diversion of hundreds of flights.
Travellers were redirected to nearby airports including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, as authorities secured the scene and launched an investigation.
The closure of one of New York’s busiest airports caused ripple effects across the broader U.S. air travel network.
Investigation Focuses on Runway Coordination
Early reports suggest the fire vehicle had been cleared to cross the runway shortly before the aircraft’s arrival, raising questions about coordination between air traffic control and ground operations.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have both launched investigations into the incident.
Investigators are expected to review:
- air traffic control communications
- runway access procedures
- emergency response protocols
“I messed up”
ATC:
“Truck 1, proceed across Runway 4.”
ATC (seconds later, urgent):
“Stop, stop, stop — Truck 1, stop!”
ATC (repeating):
“Stop! Stop! Stop!”
ATC (immediately after):
“…I messed up.
ATC (to other aircraft):
“Hold position. Hold position.”
ATC:
“Emergency vehicles, respond immediately.”
Listen to the Edited Audio Excerpts here.
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