Trending Now - Laguardia Airport Crash Claims Lives of Two Pilots
WHO:
Antoine Forest, pilot of Air Canada flight 8646
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Jazz Aviation, operator of Air Canada flight 8646
Jack Cabot, passenger on Air Canada flight 8646
Rebecca Liquori, passenger on Air Canada flight 8646
Joe, passenger on Air Canada flight 8646 (last name not provided)
Mary Schiavo, former Department of Transportation Inspector General
WHAT:
Air Canada flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport.
Both pilots of the Air Canada flight were killed.
At least 43 people were taken to hospitals due to injuries from the crash.
The Air Canada flight was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members.
The plane was traveling between 93 and 105 mph at the time of impact.
LaGuardia Airport was shut down for more than 12 hours following the crash.
The runway where the collision occurred will remain closed until 7 a.m. on March 27th, 2026.
WHERE:
LaGuardia Airport, New York City, New York
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Montreal, Canada
WHEN:
The crash occurred on March 22nd, 2026, shortly after 11:45 p.m.
LaGuardia Airport reopened at 2 p.m. on March 23rd, 2026.
The crash happened 34 years to the day after a previous passenger jet accident at LaGuardia.
WHY:
The crash was attributed to a series of miscommunications between air traffic control and the fire truck responding to an emergency.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that LaGuardia had a staffing shortfall with 33 controllers employed out of a target of 37.
HOW:
The Air Canada flight was cleared to land on Runway 4 while the fire truck was also given permission to cross the same runway.
Audio recordings revealed that the air traffic controller instructed the fire truck to stop just moments before the collision.
(UPDATED March 24, 2026 17:55 UTC)
In a tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, Air Canada flight 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck, resulting in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to at least 43 passengers. The crash, which occurred shortly after 11:45 p.m., was attributed to miscommunications between air traffic control and the fire truck, leading to both being cleared for the same runway. LaGuardia Airport was closed for over 12 hours following the accident, and the runway where the collision took place will remain shut down until 7 a.m. on March 27.