An Air Canada passenger plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot, injuring dozens, and closing the airport for investigation.
On March 23, 2026, an Air Canada Jazz Aviation flight arriving from Montreal with 76 passengers collided with a Port Authority fire truck on Runway 4 at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The collision, which occurred at approximately 24 mph, resulted in the deaths of the aircraft's pilot and co-pilot. Forty-one passengers were hospitalized, with nine still receiving treatment, while two fire truck personnel sustained broken limbs but are in stable condition. The fire truck was reportedly responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight that aborted takeoff due to an anti-ice warning and crew feeling ill. Air traffic control audio revealed panicked dispatchers attempting to avert the crash, with one controller admitting, "I messed up." LaGuardia Airport was closed until at least 2 p.m. ET Monday, leading to over 500 flight cancellations and significant travel disruption. The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to investigate the collision, with a key focus on the communication breakdown that led to the tragic event.
