Air Canada Express jet collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, killing two pilots

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, March 22, 2026, killing both pilots and injuring 41 passengers and crew plus 2 firefighters. The airport remains fully closed with an FAA ground stop until at least 2 p.m. ET Monday, March 23, with hundreds of flights canceled or diverted to JFK and Newark. Flight AC8646 from Montreal was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew when it struck the truck, which had ATC clearance but was ordered to stop seconds before impact.

The NTSB is leading the investigation with Chair Jennifer Homendy on-scene. Travelers with bookings to or from LaGuardia today face immediate rebooking needs — Air Canada has activated a family hotline at 1-800-961-7099 and is waiving change fees for affected passengers.

A fatal runway collision at one of America’s busiest airports has shut down all operations at LaGuardia, stranding thousands of travelers and raising urgent questions about ground vehicle protocols.

The Air Canada Express regional jet — operated by Jazz Aviation — had just landed from Montreal when it collided with a fire truck crossing the active runway. The impact killed the pilot and co-pilot instantly and mangled the cockpit, leaving debris and cables scattered across Runway 4 at taxiway Delta. Passengers reported violent deceleration, with some suffering head trauma from seat impacts.

The Port Authority has closed all airport access roads. The FAA issued a full ground stop. No flights are moving in or out until at least 2 p.m. ET, and the NYPD has shut every exit.

If you have a LaGuardia booking in the next 48 hours, your flight will not operate as scheduled. The airport’s slot-constrained layout means recovery takes days, not hours — the 2019 runway incursion at LGA took six hours to clear with only partial operations resuming same-day. This incident involves fatalities, wreckage removal, and a federal investigation. Full closure could extend 24–48 hours.

What happened on the runway

Flight AC8646 touched down on Runway 4 shortly before midnight Sunday. The fire truck — a Port Authority Airport Rescue and Firefighting vehicle — had received ATC clearance to cross the runway but was ordered to stop seconds before the jet made contact. The collision occurred at taxiway Delta, a high-traffic intersection where arriving aircraft exit the runway.

The CRJ-900’s cockpit was destroyed on impact. Both pilots died at the scene. Of the 76 people aboard, 41 passengers and crew were hospitalized along with 2 firefighters from the truck. As of Monday morning, 32 have been released. Injuries include broken noses, head trauma, and soft tissue damage from the sudden stop.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy arrived on-scene early Monday to lead the investigation. The agency’s go-team will analyze cockpit voice recordings, ATC communications, and the fire truck’s movement logs. Initial reports suggest the truck had clearance, but the stop order came too late to prevent the collision — a pattern that mirrors the January 2019 near-miss at LGA when a Delta jet nearly struck a truck crossing an active runway.

How LaGuardia’s layout amplifies disruption

LaGuardia operates under strict slot controls — the FAA limits the number of flights per hour to manage congestion. When one runway closes, the entire airport grinds to a halt because there’s no spare capacity to absorb diverted traffic. The 2019 runway incursion took six hours to clear with only partial operations resuming same-day. That incident involved no fatalities and minimal debris.

This collision involves two deaths, a destroyed cockpit, and a federal investigation that will keep Runway 4 closed until the NTSB completes its on-scene work. The Port Authority must also inspect the runway surface for structural damage from the impact and fire suppression foam.

The airport’s proximity to Manhattan makes it a preferred choice for business travelers, but that same location creates bottlenecks during disruptions. JFK and Newark can absorb some overflow, but both airports are already operating near capacity during peak hours. Airlines are rebooking passengers onto flights that were already full, creating a cascading delay effect that will persist for days.

What to do if you’re affected

LaGuardia is closed. Your flight will not operate as scheduled if it was supposed to depart or arrive today.

• Call your airline immediately. Air Canada is waiving change fees for all passengers affected by the closure. Other carriers operating at LaGuardia — Delta, American, United, Southwest — are issuing similar waivers. Do not wait for the airline to contact you.
• Rebook to JFK or Newark. Both airports have available capacity, but seats are filling fast. If you’re traveling for business, JFK offers more nonstop international options. Newark has better access to Manhattan via NJ Transit.
• Monitor the Port Authority’s official updates. The airport operator will announce reopening plans via panynj.gov/airports. Do not rely on social media or unofficial sources — the timeline will shift as the investigation progresses.
• File for reimbursement if you incur expenses. US DOT rules require airlines to provide refunds or rebooking for cancellations within their control. This incident falls into a gray area — the collision involved airport infrastructure, not airline operations — but most carriers are waiving fees as a customer service measure.

Watch: The Port Authority’s update on partial operations resuming after 2 p.m. ET. If Runway 13/31 reopens by evening, limited flights could restore for March 24. If not, expect full closure through Tuesday.