An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 jet collided with a fire truck on LaGuardia Airport’s runway late Sunday, March 22, 2026, killing both pilots and injuring dozens. LaGuardia closed for hours; NTSB investigation underway.
Air Canada Express Jet Hits Fire Truck at LaGuardia:
An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck on LaGuardia Airport’s Runway 4 late Sunday night, killing both the captain and first officer and injuring dozens of passengers and crew. The CRJ-900 aircraft, operating as Flight 8646 from Montreal, struck the emergency vehicle while completing its landing roll, shredding the cockpit and overturning the truck in a high-impact crash that closed one of the nation’s busiest airports for hours.
The deadly incident underscores ongoing safety concerns at LaGuardia and has triggered an immediate federal investigation into runway procedures amid surging air traffic.
CCTV, Urgent Radio Calls, and Immediate Airport Shutdown:
CCTV and surveillance footage captured the moment the jet slammed into the emergency vehicle, which was responding to an unrelated incident on another aircraft. Air traffic control audio included urgent calls of “stop, stop, stop” seconds before impact, according to preliminary reports.
The collision occurred as the plane from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport touched down and began slowing. The fire truck, part of the Port Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting fleet, had been authorised to cross the runway. The force of the impact crushed the aircraft’s nose section and caused the truck to flip, scattering debris across the runway.
LaGuardia, one of the New York area’s three major airports, was immediately closed. Hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted, creating widespread travel chaos on a busy Sunday evening. The airport reopened at 2 p.m. ET Monday after the runway was cleared and initial safety checks completed.
LaGuardia’s Safety Record and Broader Aviation Pressures:
LaGuardia has a long history of runway safety concerns, including multiple near-misses and ground collisions in recent years. The airport’s compact layout and high traffic volume have made it a focus for federal improvements, yet incidents continue. This is the first fatal runway collision involving a commercial jet at LaGuardia in more than a decade.
The 2026 aviation season has already seen elevated delays nationwide due to air traffic control staffing shortages and increased demand. Air Canada Express, operated by Jazz Aviation, is a major regional carrier serving short-haul routes between Canada and the US Northeast.