Air Canada jet strikes fire truck during landing, triggering mass cancellations and federal probe.
Queens, NY – LaGuardia Airport remains closed following a fatal overnight collision between an Air Canada Express jet and a Port Authority fire truck, an incident that killed two pilots and sent more than 40 people to the hospital while halting operations at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The crash occurred around 11:40 p.m. Sunday on Runway 4, when Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal, struck an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle responding to a separate onboard odor report involving another plane, according to officials.
Emergency crews flooded the runway within minutes, but both the pilot and co-pilot were pronounced dead. Dozens of passengers and emergency personnel were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries of varying severity.
Key Points
- Two pilots killed after Air Canada jet collides with fire truck at LaGuardia
- Over 500 flights canceled as airport remains closed through Monday afternoon
- Federal investigators on scene as air traffic control audio reveals confusion
Air traffic control audio captures final moments
Air traffic control recordings are now central to the investigation, capturing the chaotic seconds leading up to the crash. According to preliminary reports, a controller had cleared the fire truck—identified as “Truck 1”—to cross the runway before realizing the incoming aircraft was about to land.
“Stop, stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop,” the controller is heard shouting in a last-second attempt to prevent the collision.
In another recording, a controller can be heard saying, “I messed up,” moments after the impact, underscoring the confusion that unfolded in the control tower.
Airport shutdown and investigation underway
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a full ground stop immediately following the crash, with LaGuardia officials confirming the airport would remain closed until at least Monday afternoon to allow for emergency response and investigative operations.
In a statement, LaGuardia Airport said, “At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident.”
Officials added, “Emergency response protocols were immediately activated… The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed a team to the scene and is working alongside the FAA and Port Authority Police Department to determine how both the aircraft and emergency vehicle were cleared onto the same runway.
Travel disruption spreads across region
The closure has triggered widespread disruption, with more than 500 flights canceled and ripple effects expected across the New York metropolitan area. Travelers have been urged to check with airlines before heading to the airport.
“Due to emergency LaGuardia Airport is closed. Check with your airline for the latest flight information before coming to the airport,” the airport said in an earlier alert.
As investigators begin piecing together the sequence of events, questions are expected to focus on runway coordination procedures, communication protocols, and whether system failures or human error played a role in the deadly collision.