An Air Canada plane reportedly collided with a firetruck responding to a separate incident at LaGuardia Airport in the late hours of March 22, 2026. The crash reportedly killed two people and injured at least two others, according to sources familiar with the incident. LaGuardia Airport was closed and was not expected to reopen until at least 2 p.m., according to the FAA.
Air Canada flight collides with fire truck at LaGuardia airport
An Air Canada flight reportedly collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on the runway. The reports state that the pilot and copilot were killed, according to sources familiar with the case (via CNN). The incident also reportedly injured at least two others.
The Jazz Aviation flight, operating on behalf of Air Canada, reportedly collided with the firetruck at around 11:40 p.m. The Port Authority vehicle was responding to a separate incident involving a nearby flight that reportedly detected an unusual smell in the cockpit.
“Emergency response protocols were immediately activated,” the spokesperson said, “The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”
In the early hours of Monday, Jazz Aviation confirmed an incident involving Air Canada flight 8646 from Montreal. The CRJ-900 aircraft had 72 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft had arrived from Montréal Trudeau International Airport shortly before the reported crash. Reports suggested that the aircraft was traveling at about 130 miles per hour before it struck the firetruck.
In the recording captured by the website LiveATC.net, a controller can be heard giving permission for an operations truck to cross a runway moments before urgently ordering it to stop. The controller can then be heard stating in the recording that a crash had occurred.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is launching an investigation into the incident. The team is expected to arrive on Monday.
More details about the incident are expected to emerge soon.
