Dramatic Footage Shows Air Canada Jet Colliding With Fire Truck At LaGuardia

Summary:

• Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 collided with a fire truck late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport

• The pilot and co-pilot were killed, while dozens of passengers were injured

• LaGuardia has remained closed since the crash, with flights not expected to resume until 1400 ET

• ATC audio suggests the controller may have been distracted by an earlier incident

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Update on Air Canada Express Flight Crash At LaGuardia

Surveillance footage posted on X by aircraftmaintenanceengineer appears to show the moment Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck while landing at LaGuardia late Sunday night.

Authorities say both pilots were killed, and dozens of passengers, along with the two occupants of the fire truck, were injured and taken to the hospital.

Preliminary details indicate that the Jazz Aviation-operated flight from Montreal collided with the fire truck after it had been cleared to cross the runway while responding to a separate odor-related emergency involving a United Airlines flight.

Audio from the tower indicates that an air traffic controller appeared to be distracted by an earlier incident.

🚨Chilling surveillance footage has emerged showing the moment Air Canada Flight AC8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) last night.

Authorities have confirmed that both pilots were killed in the crash. Dozens of passengers,… pic.twitter.com/wCCGY9kt4o

— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) March 23, 2026

Air Canada Express Crash

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 regional jet operated by Jazz Aviation collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) late Sunday night at 23:40 ET, instantly killing the pilot and co-pilot. There were approximately 76 people on board.

BREAKING: Several injuries after Air Canada plane and firetruck collide on runaway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport pic.twitter.com/cO6u5HD1YA

— BNO News (@BNONews) March 23, 2026

The flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 said data show Flight AC8646 from Montreal landed on Runway 4 and was rolling down the runway when it struck the fire truck.

FlightRadar24 shows that Flight AC8646’s groundspeed was around 24 mph at the time of the incident.

In ATC recordings, a person in the truck requests and receives permission to cross the runway before the ATC operator tells the vehicle to stop. “Stop, Truck 1, stop!” the ATC controller says. 

ATC audio captures moment Air Canada Express flight AC8646 collided with the truck. pic.twitter.com/WsoAUT4P4j

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) March 23, 2026

Early Monday, Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, told reporters that 41 passengers and crew members were taken to the hospital, with 32 later released. She said some passengers sustained very serious injuries.

LaGuardia remains closed to operations following last night’s incident involving an Air Canada CRJ and a firefighting vehicle. The NOTAM is in effect until 18:00 GMT (2 PM local time).

More: https://t.co/RfxyZrWEtY pic.twitter.com/dqczhdcJB7

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 23, 2026

Local authorities said LaGuardia Airport is closed and may remain shut until 14:00 ET.

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