Air Canada Express jet collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, killing 2 pilots, injuring 41

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport at 11:47 p.m. ET on March 22, 2026, killing both pilots and injuring 41 passengers. The airport remains fully closed with all flights canceled or diverted to JFK and Newark through at least 2 p.m. ET Monday, March 23. The NTSB has deployed investigators to determine why the CRJ-900, traveling at 93–105 mph post-landing, struck the emergency vehicle on taxiway Delta.

Airlines have waived change fees for affected bookings. The collision occurred on one of LGA’s busiest travel weekends, stranding thousands with connections through New York’s smallest hub.

A fatal ground collision between an Air Canada Express regional jet and an airport fire truck has shut down LaGuardia Airport indefinitely, killing both pilots and leaving 41 passengers hospitalized in what investigators are calling an unprecedented taxiway incident at a major US hub.

Jazz Aviation Flight 8646 from Montreal struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle at 11:47 p.m. ET Sunday while taxiing at speeds between 93 and 105 mph after landing on Runway 4. The CRJ-900 carried 72 passengers and 4 crew. Both pilots died on impact. Thirty-two injured passengers have been released from area hospitals; nine remain under observation with serious injuries.

The FAA issued an immediate ground stop. All arrivals were diverted to JFK and Newark. All departures were canceled. Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed the airport will remain closed through at least 2 p.m. Monday while the NTSB’s “go team” secures the wreckage and begins the investigation.

This is the first fatal ground vehicle collision at LGA in modern records. The taxiway speed — far above typical post-landing taxi speeds of 10–20 mph — suggests either a control failure or a communication breakdown between the cockpit and ground control.

What the investigation will examine

The NTSB team arrives Monday to recover the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the CRJ-900. Investigators will reconstruct the final minutes of the taxi, including radio communications between the pilots and LaGuardia tower, the fire truck’s dispatch orders, and whether the aircraft’s braking system was functioning.

The collision occurred on taxiway Delta near Runway 4 — a high-traffic area where arriving aircraft turn off the active runway to reach the terminal. Initial reports indicate the fire truck was responding to an unrelated call when the aircraft struck it at near-landing speed.

The FAA certifies LaGuardia under Part 139 airport standards, which mandate annual audits of ground operations and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting protocols. Jazz Aviation holds an FAA foreign air carrier permit and is audited biennially under IOSA-aligned standards. No prior violations have been recorded for Jazz at LGA.

How this compares to past LGA incidents

LaGuardia has experienced runway excursions but no fatal ground vehicle collisions in recent decades. In January 2019, a Delta CRJ-900 — the same aircraft type involved in Sunday’s crash — skidded off Runway 13/31 during heavy snow, injuring 24 of 62 aboard. That runway reopened within 90 minutes after FAA inspection.

Sunday’s incident is categorically different. The collision occurred on a taxiway, not a runway, and involved an emergency vehicle actively operating on the airfield. The aircraft’s speed — 93 to 105 mph — is far above the 10–20 mph typical for post-landing taxi operations, suggesting either a mechanical failure or a breakdown in communication between the cockpit and ground control.

The FBI has ruled out terrorism. Canadian officials are assisting the investigation because Jazz Aviation is a Canadian operator flying under the Air Canada Express brand.

What to do if your flight is affected

LaGuardia handles 31 million passengers annually and serves as a critical connection point for Air Canada, American, Delta, and United. The closure affects thousands of travelers on one of the busiest travel weekends of the spring.

• Check your airline’s travel waiver page immediately. Air Canada, American, Delta, and United have issued fee waivers for LGA bookings through March 24. Rebook online or via phone without penalty.
• Accept diversions to JFK or Newark. Ground transport between the three airports takes 60–90 minutes by taxi or rideshare. The AirTrain at JFK connects to the subway; NJ Transit serves Newark.
• Monitor the Port Authority’s newsroom for reopening updates. The 2 p.m. Monday deadline is the earliest possible clearance — wreckage removal and taxiway inspections may push that into Tuesday.
• If you’re connecting through LGA this week, build a buffer. Even after reopening, residual delays from canceled flights and crew repositioning will ripple through Tuesday and Wednesday schedules.

Watch: The NTSB’s preliminary report, expected within 14–30 days, will reveal whether a runway incursion or communication failure caused the collision. If systemic ARFF issues are identified, expect enhanced training mandates at LGA, JFK, and Newark that could delay operations for 48+ hours.