Heartbreaking Crash at New York’s LaGuardia Airport: Air Canada Plane Collides with Fire Truck, Killing Both Pilots

A devastating accident unfolded late Sunday night (March 23, 2026) at one of New York’s busiest airports. An Air Canada Express flight from Montreal slammed into a Port Authority fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the tragic loss of both pilots and injuries to dozens of passengers.

The flight operated by Jazz Aviation as Air Canada Express Flight 8646 (a CRJ-900 regional jet) was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members. It had just touched down when it collided with the firefighting vehicle, which was responding to a separate incident on the runway.

What We Know So Far

• Both pilots, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, were killed in the impact. The cockpit area was severely damaged.
• At least 41 to 43 passengers were injured, with many taken to nearby hospitals. Some passengers described the moment as chaotic and terrifying.
• The fire truck was part of an emergency response team already on the tarmac.
• Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder (black boxes) have been recovered, and the NTSB has launched a full investigation.

LaGuardia Airport was shut down for several hours following the crash, causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations across the New York area. The airport partially reopened on Monday, but the affected runway remains closed.

Passengers who survived described a sudden, violent jolt and the cabin filling with chaos right after landing. Air traffic control audio reportedly captured urgent warnings in the final moments, but the collision could not be avoided.

This is a rare and shocking ground incident at a major U.S. airport. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the two pilots who lost their lives, the injured passengers, and everyone affected by this tragedy.

The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected in the coming days regarding what exactly led to this fatal collision.

What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking event? Feel free to share your prayers or reflections in the comments.

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