Air Canada plane collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, killing two pilots
A Jazz Aviation flight operating for Air Canada struck a Port Authority rescue vehicle during landing Sunday night, leaving the pilot and copilot dead and dozens injured.
10:20 AM
An Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority fire rescue vehicle on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in Queens on Sunday night, killing the pilot and copilot and injuring dozens of people.
The incident involved Jazz Aviation flight AC-8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet operating on behalf of Air Canada, which had departed from Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. The aircraft struck the emergency vehicle around 11:40 p.m. local time as it was landing. According to flight tracking data, the plane was traveling at approximately 210 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour) at the moment of impact.
The pilot and first officer of the aircraft died following the collision. The Port Authority confirmed their deaths. Two firefighters aboard the rescue vehicle also sustained serious injuries.
Among the 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the flight, 41 people were transported to hospitals. According to Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 32 of those injured had been discharged by Monday afternoon, while nine remained hospitalized with serious injuries.
The fire rescue vehicle was responding to a separate incident on the airport grounds when the collision occurred. Video and photographic evidence from witnesses showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from the cockpit area. The emergency vehicle was overturned on the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration immediately activated emergency protocols and ordered the closure of LaGuardia Airport. The facility remained closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday to allow emergency response operations and investigation efforts to proceed.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed condolences to the families affected by the accident. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also issued a statement following the incident.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the collision. The investigation is focusing on how the aircraft came into contact with the emergency vehicle during the landing sequence.