LaGuardia Airport Crash Kills 2 Pilots

Collision between Air Canada jet and firefighting vehicle leaves dozens injured

Mar. 24, 2026 at 5:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A regional Air Canada jet collided with a Port Authority airport vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Sunday night, killing both pilots and leaving dozens injured. The crash prompted the airport to shut down for over 12 hours, and the runway where the collision occurred will remain closed until Friday morning as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the incident.

Why it matters

The LaGuardia Airport crash highlights the risks and dangers associated with air travel, and the importance of thorough safety protocols and procedures to prevent such tragic incidents. The investigation will likely focus on determining the cause of the collision and identifying any potential lapses in airport operations or aircraft maintenance that may have contributed to the accident.

The details

The collision happened shortly after Air Canada Flight 8646, which was carrying four crew members and 72 passengers, touched down from Montreal around 11:45 p.m. The plane, which was operated by Jazz Aviation, struck a rescue-and-firefighting vehicle responding to another aircraft. Preliminary data shows the plane was traveling between 93 and 105 mph when it impacted the fire truck.

  • The collision occurred on Sunday, March 22, 2026 around 11:45 p.m.
  • LaGuardia Airport shut down after the crash and slowly resumed flights at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026.
  • The runway where the collision occurred will remain closed until 7 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The players

Antoine Forest

One of the two pilots killed in the LaGuardia Airport crash.

Kathryn Garcia

Port Authority Executive Director.

Joe

A passenger on the Air Canada flight who exited the plane through an emergency exit.

National Transportation Safety Board

The agency investigating the LaGuardia Airport crash.

Federal Aviation Administration

The agency overseeing the closure of the runway where the collision occurred.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Right before the impacts, we felt something, maybe like an emergency brake that was pulled, or some kind of hard stop, before we hit the truck.”

— Joe, Passenger on the Air Canada flight

“Because I was seated in the emergency aisle, somebody in the plane had shouted, 'Emergency exits open.' So at that time, I pulled the lever down, attached the door, put it to the side of the plane, and a few of us had exited through the emergency exit onto the wing of the plane. And FDNY and Port Authority Police directed us to slide down the wing. … It was very low to the ground and easy to get off.”

— Joe, Passenger on the Air Canada flight

“And just heartbroken for, obviously, the pilots, and all those that are injured.”

— Joe, Passenger on the Air Canada flight

“I believe the pilots 'saved many lives on that flight — and my heart's just broken for them.”

— Joe, Passenger on the Air Canada flight

What’s next

The National Transportation Safety Board will continue its investigation into the cause of the LaGuardia Airport crash, with the goal of determining what led to the collision and identifying any safety issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The takeaway

The tragic LaGuardia Airport crash serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of air travel safety and the critical role that pilots play in protecting passengers. The investigation into this incident will likely focus on identifying any lapses in airport operations or aircraft maintenance that may have contributed to the accident, with the aim of implementing measures to enhance safety and prevent such devastating crashes from occurring again.