Debris hangs from a damaged Air Canada Express jet that had collided with a ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, U.S., March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
(New York, New York) – A deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport has left two pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire rescue vehicle late Sunday night, officials confirmed.
The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, had just landed when it collided with a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting truck that was crossing the runway. The impact crushed the nose of the plane, killing both the pilot and copilot on board.
A total of 39 passengers and crew members were transported to nearby hospitals following the crash. While several sustained serious injuries, most have since been treated and released. Two Port Authority workers inside the fire truck were also injured, though their conditions were not considered life-threatening.
The jet, a Bombardier CRJ, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members after departing from Montreal. Images from the scene show the aircraft’s cockpit severely mangled, with debris scattered across the runway and the emergency vehicle overturned nearby.
Officials say the fire truck had been responding to a separate issue involving a United Airlines flight that reported an onboard odor. The exact sequence of events leading up to the crash remains under investigation.
Audio from air traffic control reveals a tense moment just before the collision, with a controller urgently warning the vehicle: “Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” before attempting to divert another incoming aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board is now leading the investigation into the incident.
LaGuardia Airport remains closed as authorities work the scene, with operations not expected to resume until at least Monday afternoon. The shutdown has triggered widespread delays and cancellations, stranding travelers across one of the nation’s busiest travel hubs.
Passengers described confusion and fear in the immediate aftermath. Some reported seeing the collision or its wreckage from nearby aircraft before being told the airport would shut down entirely.
The crash marks a rare but catastrophic incident involving both an aircraft and emergency response vehicle on an active runway, raising urgent questions about runway coordination and safety protocols at major U.S. airports.
