Air Canada Express jet collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, killing two and closing airport
An Air Canada Express flight collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport at 11:40 p.m. on March 22, 2026, killing at least two people and injuring 13 others including Port Authority firefighters. The airport remains closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday with potential extension to 6 p.m., forcing cancellations and diversions across all carriers serving LaGuardia — Air Canada, United, American, and Delta.
The Jazz Aviation CRJ-900 (Flight 8646 from Montreal) struck the fire truck as it crossed Runway 4 to respond to a separate United Airlines emergency. The NTSB has launched a full investigation to determine whether the runway crossing was properly authorized.
A fatal runway collision at one of the busiest airports in the United States has shut down LaGuardia and stranded thousands of passengers across North America. Jazz Aviation Flight 8646, operating as Air Canada Express from Montreal, struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on Runway 4 while landing shortly before midnight Sunday.
At least two people are dead and 13 injured.
The FAA issued an immediate ground stop and the airport will remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday, March 23 — potentially extending to 6 p.m. if runway damage assessment requires repairs. All arriving flights have been diverted to JFK, Newark, or returned to their origin airports. Departing flights are cancelled.
The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members. The fire truck was crossing the runway to respond to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines aircraft that had rejected two takeoffs due to an odor affecting flight attendants.
What triggered the collision
The Port Authority fire truck was crossing Runway 4 when the Air Canada jet landed and struck it at approximately 24 mph. The fire truck had been dispatched to assist a United Airlines aircraft experiencing a cabin odor issue that forced the crew to abort two takeoff attempts.
Whether the fire truck had proper clearance to cross an active runway remains the central question in the NTSB investigation. Fox News confirmed that federal authorities and Port Authority Police are on scene, with the NTSB deploying a go team to investigate the sequence of events leading to the collision.
LaGuardia has experienced runway incursions before, but fatal collisions between landing aircraft and ground vehicles are exceptionally rare in US commercial aviation — this marks one of the most serious ground accidents at a major US airport in recent decades.
| Factor | Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Airport closure | Until 2 p.m. Monday (potential 6 p.m. extension) | All flights cancelled or diverted |
| Fatalities | At least 2 confirmed | NTSB full investigation launched |
| Injuries | 13 people including firefighters | Port Authority emergency response |
| Aircraft | Jazz Aviation CRJ-900 (72 passengers, 4 crew) | Flight 8646 from Montreal |
| Runway status | Runway 4 closed pending damage assessment | Potential extension if repairs required |
How the closure affects US-Canada routes
LaGuardia serves as a critical hub for US-Canada traffic, with Air Canada (via Jazz Aviation), United, American, and Delta operating multiple daily flights to Toronto and Montreal. The closure directly impacts Air Canada’s regional network and forces passengers onto competitors’ flights at JFK and Newark — creating short-term capacity constraints on routes that were already running near full during the spring travel season.
United operates multiple daily flights from LaGuardia to Toronto and Montreal. American and Delta also serve these corridors. The sudden loss of LaGuardia capacity means these carriers must absorb displaced passengers on flights that may already be sold out, and travelers booking new trips in the next 48 hours will face higher fares and limited seat availability.
What to do if your flight is affected
The airport closure affects all carriers serving LaGuardia — Air Canada, United, American, Delta, and regional partners.
- Contact your airline immediately: Air Canada passengers call 1-800-961-7099. United passengers call 1-800-864-8331. American passengers call 1-800-433-7300. Delta passengers call 1-800-221-1212. Do not wait for automatic rebooking notifications.
- Request rebooking to JFK or Newark: Both airports are operational and accepting diverted flights. Specify your preferred alternative airport when rebooking to minimize ground transportation delays.
- Claim compensation if eligible: US passengers are entitled to rebooking at no additional cost or a full refund under DOT rules. If rebooking is delayed more than 3 hours, you may claim up to $775 depending on flight length. EU passengers departing EU airports are entitled to €250–€600 compensation under EU261/2004.
- Monitor the NTSB investigation timeline: The preliminary report is expected within 30 days and will clarify whether the fire truck’s runway crossing was properly authorized. If the report indicates procedural failure, expect FAA to issue emergency runway incursion prevention directives at major US airports within 60 days.
Watch: The NTSB preliminary report — expected within 30 days — will determine whether this was an air traffic control error, a ground vehicle clearance failure, or pilot visibility issue. If the report indicates systemic procedural gaps, expect FAA to mandate enhanced runway incursion prevention protocols at all major US airports.
Will LaGuardia reopen on schedule at 2 p.m. Monday?
The FAA has set 2 p.m. Monday as the earliest reopening time, with potential extension to 6 p.m. if runway damage assessment requires repairs. The NTSB investigation and runway inspection will determine the final timeline. Monitor the Port Authority website and your airline’s flight status page for real-time updates.
Am I entitled to compensation if my LaGuardia flight is cancelled?
Yes. US passengers are entitled to rebooking at no additional cost or a full refund under DOT rules. If rebooking is delayed more than 3 hours, you may claim up to $775 depending on flight length. EU passengers departing EU airports are entitled to €250–€600 compensation under EU261/2004. Canadian passengers departing from US airports fall under US DOT jurisdiction.
Should I avoid booking LaGuardia flights this week?
Book directly to JFK or Newark until the NTSB confirms runway reopening and the FAA lifts all ground stops. LaGuardia may reopen Monday afternoon, but the investigation could extend the closure or limit runway capacity. JFK and Newark are fully operational and offer more routing options on US-Canada corridors.
