Officials are continuing the investigation into the collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Monday that left two pilots dead and dozens injured after an Air Canada regional jet struck a fire truck on the runway shortly after landing.
The aircraft, Air Canada Express Flight 8646 operated by Jazz Aviation, had just arrived from Montreal around 11:47 p.m. Sunday when it collided with a Port Authority rescue and firefighting vehicle on Runway 4. The truck had been responding to a separate, unrelated incident at the time.
The plane, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, suffered major front-end damage. At least 41 people—including passengers, crew, and emergency personnel—were taken to nearby hospitals. While 32 have since been released, officials said several individuals sustained “serious injuries.” Two Port Authority officers in the fire truck suffered broken bones but were reported in stable condition.
Preliminary flight data indicates the jet was traveling between 93 and 105 mph at the moment of impact. All passengers have been accounted for, including an unaccompanied minor who was safely reunited with family.
Audio recordings from the control tower suggest the fire truck had been cleared to cross the runway before controllers urgently instructed it to stop multiple times just seconds before the crash. In the aftermath, a voice on the recording can be heard saying they “messed up.” Investigators are also examining whether air traffic controllers may have been distracted during the critical moments leading up to the collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop shortly after midnight, and the airport remained closed into Monday afternoon. Roads and access points around LaGuardia were also shut down as emergency crews responded.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation, focusing on factors such as aircraft speed, air traffic control procedures, and runway coordination. Canadian officials are assisting, while U.S. authorities are leading the inquiry. The FBI briefly responded but confirmed the incident was not related to terrorism or criminal activity.
Officials, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, expressed condolences, with Carney calling the “deeply saddening.” Airlines have since issued travel waivers as disruptions continue, and authorities warn of ongoing delays in and around the airport area. As of press time, LaGuardia airport was reopened.
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