Air Canada Plane Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport – Pilot Deaths & Injuries Reported
Two pilots were killed Sunday night when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, authorities confirmed. The incident forced the closure of the airport and resulted in dozens of injuries, according to initial reports.
The collision occurred as Jazz Aviation Flight 646, a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-900 operating as Air Canada Express, was landing at LaGuardia’s Runway 4, the Port Authority said. The aircraft, which originated in Montreal, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members.
Video footage circulating on social media depicts significant damage to the front of the aircraft, with the nose tilted upward. Images taken after the accident show visible damage to the plane’s nose. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft was traveling at approximately 39 kilometers per hour at the time of impact, with the last recorded data at 11:37 p.m. ET (0337 GMT).
NBC News reported that the fire truck was staffed by police officers, and that a sergeant and an officer sustained broken limbs and were hospitalized in stable condition. Yet, authorities have not yet released a comprehensive accounting of injuries.
Air Canada referred inquiries to Jazz Aviation, stating it was aware of the incident. Jazz Aviation has not yet released a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The FAA announced that LaGuardia Airport is expected to remain closed until 2 p.m. ET on Monday. As of Monday morning, Flightradar24 reported that 18 flights had been diverted to other airports in the New York area or returned to their origin points.
LaGuardia Airport served over 30 million passengers in 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and is a major hub for numerous U.S. Airlines.
New York City’s emergency notification system warned residents to expect flight cancellations, road closures, traffic delays, and a significant emergency personnel presence near the airport.