Air Canada Express Jet Collides with Fire Truck on Runway at LaGuardia Airport, Injuring Several and Halting Operations
By Hotspotnews – New York, NY – March 23, 2026
Operations at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) were suspended overnight and into the early morning of March 23 following a collision between an arriving Air Canada Express regional jet and an airport fire truck on Runway 4.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Sunday, March 22, during rainy conditions. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-900 operating as Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 (operated by Jazz Aviation), carrying approximately 76 passengers and four crew members. As the plane was completing its landing rollout, it struck Fire Truck 1, which had been authorized to cross the runway as part of emergency response or routine operations.
Reports indicate the impact happened at a relatively low speed (estimated around 30 mph as the aircraft neared the end of its landing roll). The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft’s forward section and the fire truck. Initial accounts vary slightly, but multiple sources confirm:
– At least four people were injured (reports differ on the exact breakdown between aircraft occupants and ground personnel).
– Two pilots on the Air Canada Express flight were killed in some early unconfirmed reports, though official tallies focused on injuries rather than fatalities at the time of writing.
– No passengers were reported seriously injured, though several received medical evaluation.
– The aircraft sustained substantial nose and forward fuselage damage, coming to rest on the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) immediately issued a ground stop, halting all departures and arrivals. Emergency crews responded swiftly, and the runway remained closed as investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on scene. Rain and poor visibility are being examined as potential contributing factors, along with air traffic control communications and ground vehicle movement protocols.
LaGuardia, one of the busiest airports in the New York area, faced significant disruptions, with incoming flights diverted and outbound aircraft held at gates. Airport officials described the event as a “serious ground collision” and emphasized that safety systems prevented a worse outcome.
This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. aviation safety following several high-profile near-misses and accidents in recent months, including runway incursions at other major hubs like Chicago Midway and various near mid-air collisions. The FAA has been rolling out updated ground movement procedures and technology enhancements in response.
Air Canada issued a brief statement confirming the flight’s involvement and stating that the safety of passengers and crew remains their top priority. Further details, including cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder analysis, will come from the ongoing NTSB investigation.
If this isn’t the event you meant (or if “ŵwx” refers to something else—like a specific flight number, location, or perhaps a typo for another airport/incident), please provide more details, such as a date, airline, or corrected spelling, and I’ll dig deeper!
Photos by Reuters