Two pilots are dead and dozens of people have been injured after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, in a crash that has shut down one of the busiest airports in the United States.
Officials said the Mitsubishi CRJ-900, operated by Jazz Aviation as flight AC8646 from Montreal, struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on the runway shortly after 11:30 p.m.
Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said all 76 people on board — 72 passengers and four crew — have been accounted for.
“Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased,” Garcia said at an early morning news conference Monday.
She said 41 people were taken to hospital, with 32 later released. Nine remain in care, including some in serious condition. Two Port Authority employees in the fire truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
ATC audio captures moment Air Canada Express flight AC8646 collided with the truck. pic.twitter.com/WsoAUT4P4j
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) March 23, 2026
Air Canada confirmed the deaths of the captain and first officer, both Jazz employees, in a statement early Monday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,” the airline said, adding it is sending officials to New York to assist with the investigation.
The aircraft had just arrived from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal when it struck the emergency vehicle, which had been responding to a separate incident on the airfield.
Officials said a United Airlines flight had reported a strange odour during takeoff shortly before the collision, prompting a response that included dispatching emergency vehicles onto the runway.
Air traffic control recordings suggest controllers were attempting to manage that situation in the moments leading up to the crash, including instructing a vehicle to cross the tarmac before urgently trying to halt it.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate…
— LaGuardia Airport (@LGAairport) March 23, 2026
“Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” one controller can be heard saying, before diverting incoming aircraft.
Photos from the scene show the regional jet severely damaged, its nose crumpled and cockpit ripped open.
The fire truck was also severely damaged and overturned.
Passengers were evacuated using mobile stairways brought to the aircraft doors.
I am on my way to LaGuardia Airport now in response to last night’s horrific crash involving Air Canada Express 8646 and a fire truck that killed two pilots.@FAANews and @NTSB are working closely on this, and we will share updates as soon as possible.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 23, 2026
Please keep the victims,… pic.twitter.com/YWTjDn6cde
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from Canadian authorities.
Transport Minister Steven McKinnon said Canada is working closely with U.S. officials, adding that “aviation safety remains our highest priority.”
LaGuardia Airport, located in Queens, remained closed Monday morning and is expected to stay shut until at least 2 p.m. as investigators examine the scene.
The crash disrupted travel across the region, with passengers scrambling to rebook flights or travel to alternate airports as operations at LaGuardia were suspended.
