Deadly Collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport Leaves Pilots Dead, Passengers Injured

Investigators probe coordination of air and ground traffic in the lead-up to the crash that shut down the airport for hours.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-speed collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport killed the pilots and injured dozens of passengers and crew. Passengers described a chaotic scene as they evacuated the damaged plane, with some suffering head wounds and other serious injuries. Authorities have recovered the plane's black boxes and are investigating the coordination of air and ground traffic at the time of the crash, which shut down the airport for hours.

Why it matters

The deadly crash at one of the busiest airports in the New York region raises questions about airport safety protocols and the coordination between air traffic control and ground operations, especially during emergencies. It also highlights the ongoing challenges facing the aviation industry, including staffing shortages and the impact of government shutdowns on airport operations.

The details

The collision occurred late Sunday night as the Air Canada regional jet was landing at LaGuardia. The fire truck had been given permission to cross the tarmac to check on another plane that had aborted its takeoff. An air traffic controller can be heard on recordings frantically telling the fire truck to stop, but it was too late. The impact killed the pilots and hurled a flight attendant from the aircraft. About 40 passengers and crew members were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries.

  • The collision occurred late Sunday night.
  • Roughly 20 minutes after the initial incident, the air traffic controller appears to blame himself, saying 'We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.'

The players

Air Canada

The Canadian airline whose regional jet was involved in the deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport.

Clément Lelièvre

A passenger on the Air Canada flight who described the chaotic evacuation and credited the pilots' 'incredible reflexes' with saving lives.

Antoine Forest

One of the pilots who died in the crash. He was based out of Canada and had always wanted to be a pilot, according to his great aunt.

Mary Schiavo

A former Department of Transportation Inspector General who said a key for investigators will be examining the coordination of the airport's air traffic and ground traffic at the time of the crash.

Sean Duffy

The Transportation Secretary who said LaGuardia is 'well-staffed' but faces a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Strangely enough, I wasn't scared or panicked. On the contrary, I think most of us were pretty aware of what happened. So we all went outside; we got other people out.”

— Clément Lelièvre, Passenger

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Investigators need to sift through a lot of debris at the crash site, which is likely to be closed for 'days' during the investigation. More information is expected to be released on Tuesday as the National Transportation Safety Board continues its probe into the cause of the deadly collision.

The takeaway

This tragic incident at one of the busiest airports in the New York region highlights the critical importance of effective coordination between air traffic control and ground operations, especially during emergencies. It also underscores the ongoing staffing challenges facing the aviation industry and the potential impacts of government shutdowns on airport safety and efficiency.