Air Canada Flight Collides With Fire Truck At LaGuardia Airport
As participants in Amazon Associates and other programs, we earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you. For more details, see our Affiliate Disclosure.
An Air Canada Express regional jet struck a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night. The collision killed both the pilot and copilot. Dozens of passengers sustained injuries while the airport shut down for hours.
Flight AC8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, arrived from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members aboard. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. when the aircraft landed on the active runway. The fire truck was crossing to respond to a separate United Airlines flight reporting an odor in the cockpit.
Port Authority officials activated emergency protocols immediately. The aircraft sustained heavy damage to its front section. Forty-one people from the plane and fire truck crew required hospital transport, with most later released. Two firefighters remained in stable condition.
LaGuardia, the region’s third-busiest airport, stayed closed until early Monday afternoon. The closure triggered more than 500 flight cancellations across the New York area. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop during the initial response and investigation.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on scene to examine the runway incursion. Air traffic control audio indicated the fire truck received clearance to cross after stopping short of the runway. The truck responded to the earlier United incident with lights and sirens active.
Air Canada confirmed the fatalities and expressed condolences to the families. The carrier cooperated fully with authorities while arranging alternative travel for affected passengers. Jazz Aviation, the regional partner, also issued statements supporting the ongoing probe.
Passengers described a sudden impact followed by cabin chaos and emergency evacuations. The runway incursion highlights coordination challenges between aircraft and ground vehicles during multi-incident responses. No mechanical issues with the aircraft have surfaced in preliminary reports.
The event adds to recent U.S. airport disruptions from staffing shortages and external pressures. LaGuardia resumed limited operations Monday as crews cleared the scene. Travelers should monitor airline updates for residual delays in the Northeast corridor.
