Two Pilots Killed After Air Canada Plane Collides With Firefighting Vehicle
Two Pilots Killed After Air Canada Plane Collides with Firefighting Vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Two pilots were killed and dozens of others injured after an Air Canada Express flight collided with a firefighting vehicle on the runway during landing at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, authorities confirmed.
An Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ‑900 jet, operating Flight 8646 from Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport, struck a Port Authority fire truck while landing on Runway 4/22 at around 11:30 p.m. local time. The firefighting vehicle was responding to a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight when it entered the active runway moments before the Air Canada jet touched down. Audio released from air traffic control captured urgent calls attempting to stop the truck before impact.
- Fatalities: Both the pilot and co‑pilot were killed in the collision when the aircraft’s cockpit and forward section were destroyed.
- Injured: At least 41 people were hospitalized, including passengers, crew, and two firefighters from the rescue truck.
- Many injured passengers have since been treated and released, though several remain in care.
LaGuardia Airport was shut down immediately following the crash, with all flights suspended for several hours. It partially reopened by Monday afternoon, but some runways remained closed due to debris and hazardous materials recovery.
The collision caused widespread travel disruption across the New York area, with cancellations and delays throughout the day.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), together with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Canadian authorities, has launched a full investigation into the incident.
Officials are examining air traffic control communications, procedural oversight, and how the fire truck came to be cleared onto the runway during an active landing. Tributes have poured in for the two pilots, underscoring the tragedy of the crash. Aviation unions and safety advocates are calling for a thorough review of air traffic control procedures and staffing levels to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Flight: Air Canada Express Flight 8646 (CRJ‑900)
- Origin: Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport
- Destination: LaGuardia Airport, New York
- Occupants: 72 passengers, 4 crew
- Fatalities: 2 (pilot, co‑pilot)
- Injuries: 39+ from aircraft, 2 from fire truck
- Investigation: Led by NTSB & FAA
The crash is one of the deadliest runway collisions in recent U.S. aviation history, raising urgent questions about ground operations and communications between air traffic control and emergency response vehicles on active runways.
