Two Pilots Die in New York Plane Collision

Two Pilots Die in New York Plane Collision Two Pilots Die in New York Plane Collision
An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. Air Canada Express flight AC8646 originated from Montreal and collided with the fire truck during landing. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

A plane operated by Jazz Aviation collided with a firefighting truck late Sunday on a runway at LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot and injuring at least 13 others, authorities and US media reported.

The aircraft, a CRJ-900 operating as Air Canada Express flight AC8646, had arrived from Montreal and struck the emergency vehicle on Runway 4 around 11:40 pm as the truck responded to a separate incident, according to the New York Port Authority.

Emergency crews responded immediately, transporting 11 passengers and two first responders to hospitals.

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A preliminary passenger list indicated 76 people were on board, including four crew members.

Photos from AFP showed heavy damage to the plane’s nose and cockpit area, surrounded by flashing emergency vehicles.

US aviation authorities ordered a temporary halt to all flights at LaGuardia, warning of potential extended disruptions.

Two Pilots Die in New York Plane Collision
Emergency personnel respond to the Port Authority fire truck that was struck by a landing Air Canada Express plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. Air Canada Express flight AC8646 originated from Montreal and collided with the fire truck during landing. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

“The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation,” the port authority said in a statement to AFP.

The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a “go team” to investigate the collision.

Flight tracking platform FlightRadar24 said the plane “was rolling down the runway when it struck” the rescue vehicle as it crossed its path.

The accident adds to a series of recent ground and air incidents in the United States, including a passenger jet–army helicopter collision near Washington in January 2025 that killed 67 people.

LaGuardia, located in Queens and New York’s third-busiest airport, served 33.5 million passengers in 2024.

It recently completed an $8 billion redevelopment, upgrading terminals and roadways.

New York’s emergency management authority warned people to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel,” and use alternate routes near the airport.

Author

  • Jimisayo Opanuga

    Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.

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