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Air Canada Express Plane Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia, Killing Both Pilots
Tragic crash at LaGuardia: Air Canada Express jet collides with a fire truck on landing, killing both pilots and injuring dozens. Airport closed; investigations underway.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-23
Air Canada Express Plane Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia, Killing Both Pilots

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 jet collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of passengers and emergency personnel, authorities confirmed.

The regional flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, had departed from Montreal carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Officials reported that 41 people were injured, with nine remaining in hospital with serious injuries, while two Port Authority firefighters were also seriously hurt.

According to Kathryn Garcia, the fire truck involved had been responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines aircraft that reported an onboard odor. Communications indicated the vehicle was cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway Delta, where the collision occurred. Audio from air traffic control captured a controller shouting for the truck to stop just moments before impact.

The aircraft struck the fire vehicle at approximately 24 miles per hour (39 kph), causing significant damage to the plane’s nose. Passengers reported head injuries and other minor traumas, with some describing chaos inside the cabin as the plane tilted upward after impact.

Jazz Aviation President Doug Clarke expressed condolences and highlighted the difficulty of the day for airline staff and the victims’ families.

The incident comes amid ongoing challenges in the U.S. aviation system, including chronic air traffic controller shortages and Transportation Security Administration staffing gaps due to a partial government shutdown. These issues have contributed to delays, long security lines, and heightened safety concerns.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is deploying an investigative team, supported by Canada’s Transportation Safety Board. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that LaGuardia would remain closed until 2 p.m. ET on Monday, leading to the cancellation of at least 546 flights.

Safety experts say runway incursions are often caused by multiple factors. “Communication is going to be a major part of this investigation,” said aviation analyst Anthony Brickhouse. “The Air Canada jet was cleared to land, and the fire truck was cleared to cross. Investigators will need to determine how this breakdown occurred.”

The crash is the latest in a string of high-profile aviation incidents, including the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which killed 67 people, and a UPS cargo plane crash last year in Louisville, Kentucky.

Canadian Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon confirmed that Canada is coordinating closely with U.S. authorities as investigations continue.

The collision has raised urgent questions about air traffic control staffing, emergency vehicle coordination, and airport safety protocols, prompting renewed scrutiny of aviation infrastructure amid rising flight volumes and personnel shortages.
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AviationSafety

AirCanada

LaGuardiaCrash

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