By Evgenia Filimianova and Joseph Lord
Two pilots were killed after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late on March 22, authorities have confirmed.
The airport was closed for hours before being reopened Monday.
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said on Monday that the aircraft, Air Canada Flight 8646 operated by regional partner Jazz Aviation, collided with the Port Authority fire vehicle on Runway 4 during landing at about 11.40 p.m. local time.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said that the Cockpit Voice Recorder had been recovered from the wreckage. Homendy said officials had determined that the device was in good working order, and it’s been brought to Washington, D.C., for lab analysis.
Homendy said it was too early in the investigation to provide specific answers about how the accident unfolded, saying more information was expected to be released Tuesday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy deferred commenting until the investigation had made findings, saying, “I can’t give specifics on what went wrong.”
The plane carried 72 passengers and four crew members. Garcia said the aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) truck involved carried two officers, and emergency responders rushed to the scene immediately, in accordance with established protocols. She said 41 passengers and crew were taken to hospitals along with the ARFF officers, with most later being released.
“At this time, we understand that 32 have been released, but there are also serious injuries,” Garcia told reporters. “Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased. and notifications are being made by Air Canada’s care team at this time.”
She said families were directed to the Air Canada ticket counter for reunification and that an unaccompanied minor on board had been reunited with family members.
Air Canada stated in a March 23 post on X that it has set up a phone line for friends and family of passengers on Flight 8646 to call for assistance.
Garcia said she expected the airport to remain closed at least until 2 p.m. local time to facilitate the NTSB investigation.
Flightradar24 data show that, in the early hours of March 23, 18 flights were diverted from LaGuardia Airport following the collision, with most being redirected to the region’s other major airports, John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (EWR) airports.
Garcia said the fire vehicle had been responding to another aircraft, a United Airlines plane that had reported an odor issue, when the collision occurred.
She said investigators would determine details, including the aircraft’s speed and operational conditions at the time.
Investigation, Airport Closure
The NTSB stated in a March 23 post on X that it had launched a “go team” to investigate the accident.
“Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as the on-scene spokesperson, accompanied by Member John DeLeeuw. The investigative team is expected to arrive today,” the NTSB stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated in a March 23 post on X that it would participate in the probe but that the NTSB is leading the investigation and will issue official updates. The agency also confirmed that the airport remained shut following the incident.
“The airport is closed. Visit the NOTAM site for additional information. This information is preliminary and subject to change,” the Federal Aviation Administration stated.
LaGuardia Airport stated in a March 23 post on X that emergency response procedures were activated immediately and that the facility was closed to support rescue operations and investigation efforts.
“The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation. This is a developing situation,” LaGuardia stated.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a March 23 post on X that the incident was “deeply saddening.”
“Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues,” he said. “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a social media post that he was traveling to LaGuardia Airport following the incident.
“Please keep the victims, families and response teams in your prayers,” he said.
New York City’s emergency notification system early on March 23 warned of road closures near the airport and urged motorists to seek alternate routes.
Later in the day, officials said access had been restored.
“All Grand Central Parkway entrances and exits to and from LaGuardia Airport in Queens have reopened,” Notify NYC said in a March 23 post on X.
LaGuardia handled more than 30 million passengers in 2025, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, making disruptions there significant for regional air travel.
Reuters contributed to this report.
