Trending Now - Survivors Share Miraculous Tales From Laguardia Airport Collision
WHO:
President Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Kathryn Garcia (executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey), David Soucie (former FAA safety inspector), Mary Schiavo (former Department of Transportation Inspector General), Clément Lelièvre (passenger), Jeannette Gagnier (great aunt of pilot Antoine Forest).
Air Canada, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
WHAT:
An Air Canada plane collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to dozens of passengers and two firetruck personnel.
The crash occurred just after the plane landed, leading to the closure of LaGuardia Airport for approximately 14 hours.
There were 72 passengers and four crew members aboard the Air Canada Jazz flight, which originated from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.
The collision was described as the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years.
Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for analysis.
WHERE:
LaGuardia Airport, New York, USA.
WHEN:
The collision occurred on March 22nd, 2026, at night.
LaGuardia Airport reopened on March 23rd, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET.
The investigation into the crash began on March 23rd, 2026.
WHY:
The fire truck was given permission to cross the runway to check on another plane that had aborted its takeoff due to an odor on board.
An air traffic controller was heard frantically instructing the fire truck to stop just before the collision.
HOW:
The collision occurred at high speed, with the jet hitting the fire truck at an angle that avoided fuel supplies, as noted by aviation-safety analyst David Soucie.
Passengers escaped the aircraft by tearing open emergency exit doors and jumping off the wings, assisting others in the process.
(UPDATED March 24, 2026 13:40 UTC)
A tragic incident occurred at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, when an Air Canada plane collided with a Port Authority fire truck, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to dozens of passengers and two fire truck personnel. The crash happened just after the plane landed, leading to the airport's closure for about 14 hours, with 72 passengers and four crew members on board the flight from Montreal. This marks the first fatal crash at LaGuardia in 34 years, and investigators have since recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for analysis. The fire truck had been given permission to cross the runway to check on another plane that had aborted its takeoff due to an odor onboard, and an air traffic controller was heard urgently instructing the fire truck to stop just before the collision. Passengers managed to escape the aircraft by tearing open emergency exit doors and jumping off the wings, helping others in the process.