Air Canada Express Flight 8646 Crash

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 Crash, on March 23 2026, was an aviation accident that occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, United States, when a passenger aircraft collided with a fire truck during landing.

An aircraft colliding with a fire truck during landing in New York City, United States, March 23 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)

Flight Information

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 operated from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, Canada, to New York LaGuardia Airport. The aircraft involved was a CRJ-900 regional passenger jet operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada. It was reported that there were 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board, totaling 76 people.

Course of the Accident

The accident occurred on March 23 2026 at approximately 11:40–11:45pm Eastern Time (local time). As the aircraft was landing at LaGuardia Airport, it collided with a fire truck on the runway. The collision was reported to have taken place on Runway 4. The fire truck had been directed onto the runway as part of an emergency response to a reported “odor” on a United Airlines aircraft.

According to air traffic control recordings, the fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway before the controller issued a “stop” command to the vehicle. Following this warning, the controller was attempting to direct other approaching aircraft. The aircraft’s speed at the moment of impact was reported to be approximately 39 kilometers per hour (24 miles per hour).

Fatalities and Injuries

As a result of the crash, both the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft lost their lives. It was reported that 41 people were taken to hospital, of whom 32 were discharged and 9 remained hospitalized with serious injuries.

The injured included passengers, crew members, and personnel aboard the fire truck. It was reported that two of the fire truck crew were also injured and received hospital treatment. These injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

Physical Damage

Images taken after the accident showed severe damage to the front section of the aircraft, with the nose section lifted upward. The fire truck was reported to have rolled onto its side following the collision. Emergency evacuation slides were deployed to the aircraft to facilitate passenger evacuation.

An aircraft colliding with a fire truck during landing in New York City, United States, March 23 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)

Impact on Airport Operations

Following the accident, LaGuardia Airport was closed to all flights. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a “ground stop” for all departures. The airport was expected to remain closed until at least 2:00pm local time (18:00 GMT). It was reported that at least 18 flights were diverted to other airports or returned to their departure points.

Hundreds of flights were affected, approximately 546 flights were canceled, and operations of numerous airlines were disrupted. Passengers were reported to have been stranded in terminals.

Emergency Response and Official Statements

It was stated that emergency response protocols were immediately activated following the accident. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed that the incident occurred during nighttime hours and that both pilots had died.

Officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey provided updates on the condition of the injured and confirmed that a comprehensive emergency response was carried out. The Mayor of New York City described the incident as a “tragic collision” and announced that an investigation had been launched.

Investigation Process

Following the accident, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a “team of experts” to the site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also assigned personnel to support the investigation. The investigation focused particularly on air traffic control communications, vehicle movements on the runway, and coordination procedures at the time of impact. Experts were reported to be examining the air traffic controllers’ instructions, the fire truck’s position, and communication protocols.