An Air Canada Express jet crashed into an airport fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), killing both the pilot and co-pilot. This caused all flights to be suspended. The event happened late on Sunday night, March 22, 2026. It has led to a major investigation. As a result, there are a lot of travel problems at one of the busiest domestic airports in the US.
The crash site video and pictures show that an Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900—Jazz Aviation flight AC8646 from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)—was tilted on Runway 4. Its nose was badly crushed after hitting a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle. Airport officials say the crash happened around 11:40 pm on Sunday. The plane was slowing down after landing. At that moment, it hit the fire truck. The fire truck was already on its way to another incident.
Authorities confirmed that the pilot and co-pilot died in the crash. This is a sad loss for the aviation community and Air Canada’s regional operations. At least 13 other people, including passengers and first responders, were taken to the hospital. Most of the injuries were said to be minor. There were two Port Authority employees in the ARFF vehicle. They both survived, but they had broken bones.
The FAA put a ground stop in place right away, and the Port Authority said that LaGuardia Airport would stay closed until at least 2:00 pm local time on Monday, March 23. This closure allows time to clear the runway and let investigators in. The FAA and airport officials said that the closure was necessary for safety. In addition, it helps the investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies.
Hundreds of travelers were stuck at LGA because of the shutdown. Many of them had to wait all night while airlines tried to rebook or cancel flights. Air Canada, United Airlines, Delta, and Southwest all had to change their schedules. This put even more pressure on regional hubs and airports like JFK and Newark.
Air Canada put out a short statement about the incident with Air Canada Express Flight 8646. The airline confirmed that Jazz Aviation ran the Montreal–New York route. The airline sent its condolences to the families of the crew members who died. Additionally, it said it was fully cooperating with the authorities. The investigation is now looking into how air traffic control talked to each other and how the runway was. It is also looking at the order of events that led the ARFF vehicle and the incoming jet to end up on the same piece of pavement.
The LaGuardia crash shows how weak airport ground operations are and how one runway incident can affect the whole regional network for people who travel around the world and for business. Passengers should keep an eye on Air Canada, FAA, and airline app alerts for real-time updates on departures, cancellations, and rerouting options through nearby New York area airports. This is important as investigations continue.
