The numbers
A tragic incident occurred at LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026, when an Air Canada Express CRJ-900, operating as Flight 8646, collided with a Port Authority fire truck shortly after landing. The crash resulted in the deaths of both the pilot and co-pilot, while 41 individuals were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
The Air Canada flight, which had just arrived from Montreal, was carrying a total of 76 people, including 72 passengers and 4 crew members. At the time of the collision, the aircraft was traveling between 93 and 105 mph. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene to assist those affected by the incident.
Among the injured were two Port Authority officers, who sustained serious injuries during the collision. Following the crash, LaGuardia Airport was closed and is expected to remain so until at least 2 p.m. the following day. Major airlines have since waived rebooking fees for travelers whose flights were canceled due to the incident.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed condolences regarding the tragedy, stating, “Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, which is expected to take between 12 to 18 months to complete.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one Frontier pilot commenting, “That wasn’t good to watch.” Capt. Laura Einsetler noted the unusual nature of the incident, stating, “It’s very unusual to have a situation where we’re landing on the runway and you have emergency equipment – emergency equipment operators on the runway itself.” This highlights the potential safety concerns that may arise when emergency vehicles are present on active runways.
In the aftermath of the crash, Kathryn Garcia confirmed that all on board the plane have been accounted for. However, the investigation will seek to clarify the exact sequence of events leading to the collision, including the circumstances that placed the fire truck on the runway at the time of landing.
As the investigation unfolds, details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific actions taken by the fire truck crew and the Air Canada flight crew prior to the collision. Observers are closely monitoring the situation as more information is expected to emerge in the coming days.
