Two Pilots Dead and Dozens Injured After Air Canada Jet Collides With Fire Truck at LaGuardia

Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers were injured after an Air Canada Express jet collided with an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The aircraft, operating as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 from Montreal, had just landed on Runway 4 when it struck the emergency vehicle, which was responding to a separate incident elsewhere on the airfield.

The CRJ‑900, operated by Jazz Aviation, was decelerating after touchdown when it made contact with the fire truck, causing catastrophic damage to the forward fuselage and cockpit. Emergency slides were deployed immediately as passengers evacuated the aircraft amid smoke, flashing lights and a large emergency response presence. Several passengers described the impact as sudden and violent, with many thrown forward as the aircraft came to an abrupt stop.

Air traffic control audio captured the moments leading up to the collision, including urgent calls from controllers instructing the ground vehicle to stop. Moments later, controllers acknowledged that the aircraft had struck the truck, prompting a full airport shutdown. LaGuardia suspended all operations as first responders worked to secure the scene and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

Authorities confirmed that both pilots died at the scene. More than forty passengers and crew members were taken to hospitals across the city, most with non‑life‑threatening injuries, though several remain in serious condition. Two Port Authority officers inside the fire truck were also injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation and deployed a team to the airport. Early indications suggest a possible communication breakdown between air traffic control and ground units, though officials emphasized that it is too early to determine the cause. The FAA is conducting its own review alongside the NTSB.