Date: March 23, 2026 l By: Dalena Reporters
The incident occurred late Sunday night when the Air Canada Express flight, arriving from Montreal, was landing on the runway and struck a fire truck that had entered the airstrip during an emergency response operation.
Authorities confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives in the crash. Several passengers and crew members on board sustained injuries, with emergency responders quickly transporting the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The aircraft, a regional jet operated on behalf of Air Canada, was carrying dozens of passengers at the time of the collision. Witnesses described a sudden and violent impact as the plane hit the vehicle, causing significant damage to the front section of the aircraft.
Preliminary reports indicate that the fire truck was responding to a separate emergency involving another aircraft when it entered the runway, raising serious concerns about coordination between ground crews and air traffic control.
Following the crash, LaGuardia Airport was temporarily shut down, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays as authorities secured the area and launched an investigation.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun a full investigation into the incident, focusing on communication between the control tower and ground personnel, as well as runway safety protocols.
Aviation experts say such collisions are extremely rare and point to a critical breakdown in airport operations. They stress that strict coordination procedures are essential to prevent aircraft and ground vehicles from occupying the same runway at the same time.
Officials in both Canada and the United States have expressed condolences to the families of the victims, while Air Canada has pledged full cooperation with investigators.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has raised urgent questions about airport safety systems and emergency response procedures, with global attention now focused on how such a fatal incident could occur at a major international airport.