Air Canada Express Jet Crashes Into Fire Truck on LaGuardia Runway, Killing Two Pilots

A tragic aviation accident occurred at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening, March 22, 2026, when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle during landing.

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ABC News

The incident unfolded around 11:40 p.m. local time on Runway 4, where the Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle.

ABC News

The vehicle was responding to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight that had requested assistance due to a strange odor in the cockpit.

The collision immediately triggered emergency protocols, leading to the airport's complete closure and the diversion of all incoming flights.

Authorities worked to rescue survivors and secure the scene as emergency response efforts intensified.

The aircraft involved in the collision was a Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet that had departed from Montreal Trudeau International Airport shortly after 10:30 p.m. ET.

The plane was carrying approximately 72 passengers and four crew members according to preliminary passenger lists.

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Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the plane was traveling at about 24 miles per hour (39 km/h) when it struck the emergency vehicle.

The vehicle had been cleared by air traffic control to cross Runway 4 at taxiway Delta.

Controllers repeatedly shouted 'Stop, stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop' before the collision occurred.

The collision caused catastrophic damage to the front section of the CRJ-900, with the nose completely crushed.

The aircraft was tilted upward as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

The collision resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, with both the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft confirmed dead according to multiple sources.

“A regional Air Canada Express aircraft, inbound from Montreal, collided with a rescue and firefighting vehicle on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport in the evening of March 22, 2026, killing the captain and first officer and injuring several dozen people”

Air Journal

At least 13 people were hospitalized, including two Port Authority police officers who were in the fire truck.

The officers sustained broken limbs but were expected to survive, according to emergency officials.

A female flight attendant was reportedly ejected through the front of the aircraft while still strapped into her seat.

She miraculously survived after being rescued by officers.

Among the approximately 100 passengers onboard, many were reportedly Orthodox Jews from the New York area.

While no serious passenger injuries were initially reported, all were being evaluated by medical teams.

The injured firefighters were from the Port Authority Police Department's Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration immediately issued a ground stop for all flights at LaGuardia Airport.

The ground stop effectively halted arrivals and departures until further notice.

Al Jazeera

The airport closure was expected to last until at least 2 p.m. on Monday.

Officials warned of a 'high probability' of the shutdown being extended.

LaGuardia's website showed that arriving planes had been diverted to other airports such as JFK or Newark.

Some flights returned to their points of origin.

The Port Authority confirmed that emergency response protocols were immediately activated.

The airport was closed 'to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.'

The National Transportation Safety Board launched a full investigation, dispatching a 'go team' to the scene.

The incident at LaGuardia comes amid broader concerns about airport safety and operational challenges.

“The magnitude of the incident was evident in several videos recorded by witnesses and shared on social media”

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LaGuardia serves over 30 million annual passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in the United States.

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This collision represents the second serious ground incident at the airport in less than six months.

In October 2025, there was a collision between two Endeavor Air CRJ-900 regional jets.

The crash occurred during heavy weather conditions that had already caused delays.

Some reports suggest the wet runway conditions may have contributed to the incident.

The broader context includes ongoing operational strain at US airports due to staffing shortages.

These staffing issues were caused by the expiration of federal funding.

This had already led to longer security wait times and flight disruptions before the accident.