Air Canada Flight Collides with Vehicle at LaGuardia Airport

LaGuardia Airport Reopens After Collision Between Air Canada Plane and Fire Truck

LaGuardia Airport in New York City reopened Monday afternoon, March 23, 2026, following a late-night collision between an Air Canada Express flight and a Port Authority fire truck. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. Sunday, resulted in the deaths of the pilots and injuries to dozens of others.

The aircraft, Jazz Aviation flight 8646 operating on behalf of Air Canada, was nearing the end of its landing procedure when it struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on Runway 4. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the fire truck was responding to a separate, unrelated incident involving a reported odor on a United flight at the time of the collision.

Both pilots – the captain and first officer – were killed in the crash. Forty-one passengers, crew members, and aircraft rescue and firefighting officers were transported to area hospitals for treatment, with 32 already released as of Monday morning, according to Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. Two Port Authority police officers sustained broken bones and are in stable condition.

The incident raises immediate questions about runway safety protocols and air traffic control procedures. Audio recordings released reveal an air traffic controller admitting to a mistake, stating, “I messed up,” shortly after the collision. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced he is traveling to LaGuardia to oversee the investigation, which will be jointly conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Port Authority.

Duffy indicated the FAA is specifically examining whether staffing levels within air traffic control contributed to the accident. The NTSB team is already on-site gathering evidence and analyzing the circumstances leading up to the collision. Preliminary data suggests the Air Canada plane was traveling between 93 and 105 mph at the moment of impact.

The Air Canada Express flight originated at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft sustained significant damage, with images showing a crushed nose and the rear section lowered to the runway. The Port Authority fire truck also suffered substantial damage.

While the immediate focus is on the investigation and ensuring the safety of those injured, the incident is likely to prompt a broader review of airport ground operations and communication protocols. The closure of LaGuardia Airport caused significant disruptions to air travel, impacting numerous flights and passengers. The airport was expected to remain closed through early Monday afternoon, but has since reopened.

The investigation will likely focus on determining how both the aircraft and the fire truck were granted runway clearance simultaneously, and what factors contributed to the controller’s acknowledged error. Further updates are expected as the NTSB and FAA continue their investigation.