New York: A tragic ground collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday, March 22, 2026, has claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet. The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, struck a Port Authority fire truck while landing on Runway 4 at approximately 11:37 PM ET. The airport remained closed through Monday morning as federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA began a probe into the catastrophic lapse in runway safety.
The flight, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members from Montreal, was decelerating at approximately 39 km/h (24 mph) when it impacted the emergency vehicle. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the fire truck—manned by police officers—was responding to a separate, unrelated incident when it crossed into the path of the landing jet. While dozens of passengers sustained minor injuries, the two flight deck officers were the only confirmed fatalities. Two police officers on the truck were treated for broken limbs and are reported to be in stable condition.
Key Details of the Incident:
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Flight Information: Air Canada Express (Jazz Aviation) CRJ-900, arriving from Montreal Trudeau International Airport.
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Casualties: Pilot and Co-pilot confirmed deceased; several passengers injured; two Port Authority officers hospitalized.
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Airport Status: LaGuardia Airport (LGA) suspended all operations following the crash, with over 18 flights diverted to Newark and JFK. Authorities expect a partial reopening after 2 PM ET on Monday.
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Audio Evidence: Chilling cockpit remains have surfaced on social media, featuring air traffic controllers shouting “Stop, Stop, Stop” seconds before the impact.
Visuals from the scene show significant structural damage to the nose and cockpit area of the aircraft, which appeared tilted upward following the collision. Air Canada has expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased crew members and is cooperating with U.S. authorities. This incident marks the most significant ground safety failure at a major U.S. airport in years, raising urgent questions about runway incursion prevention systems and emergency response protocols.
