Deadly Collision Between Plane and Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport

An Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway, killing the pilots and injuring dozens of others

Mar. 24, 2026 at 11:15am

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On Sunday night, an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway as the plane was landing at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. The crash killed the plane's pilot and co-pilot, and injured dozens of others, including two officers in the fire truck. The fire truck was responding to an unrelated incident when it crossed the runway into the jet's path, leading to the deadly collision.

Why it matters

LaGuardia is one of the key regional hubs for air travel in the Northeastern United States, with nearly 900 arrivals and departures per day. The crash and subsequent airport closure will significantly disrupt regional and domestic travel, adding to existing travel issues caused by the partial government shutdown.

The details

The Air Canada CRJ-900 jet, operating as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, had flown from Montreal with 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board. As the plane was landing around 11:40 pm, it collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that had crossed into the runway. The impact caused the plane's nose to be mostly sheared off, and an overturned fire truck was found nearby. A flight attendant was ejected from the plane while still strapped into her seat.

  • The collision occurred around 11:40 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2026.
  • LaGuardia Airport was closed until 2 pm on Monday, March 25, 2026 as emergency crews responded.

The players

LaGuardia Airport

One of the three major airports serving the New York City metropolitan area, and a central hub for regional and domestic travel in the Northeast United States.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The agency that owns and operates LaGuardia Airport, as well as other transportation infrastructure in the region.

Air Canada

The national airline of Canada, operating the regional jet involved in the collision as Air Canada Express.

Jazz Aviation

The regional carrier in Canada that was operating the Air Canada Express flight on behalf of Air Canada.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

The U.S. government agency responsible for investigating the crash and determining its cause.

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What they’re saying

“I've never heard it before. It was like a grinding.”

— Rebecca Liquori, Passenger

“They did everything they can to save us and they didn't save themselves and they couldn't save themselves.”

— Rebecca Liquori, Passenger

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board will continue its investigation into the cause of the collision, and the runway where the crash occurred will remain closed until the investigation is complete.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the critical importance of airport safety protocols and the need for thorough investigations to prevent similar accidents in the future. The disruption to travel at a major regional hub like LaGuardia also underscores the broader impact that such incidents can have on transportation networks and the traveling public.