Pilot, Co-Pilot Die After Plane Collides With Fire Truck On Runway At LaGuardia Airport
Gatekeepers News reports that a late-night collision between a passenger aircraft and a firefighting truck at LaGuardia Airport has left the pilot and co-pilot dead and disrupted flight operations, according to authorities and US media reports. ✈️🚒
The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, struck the emergency vehicle on Runway 4 at about 11:40 pm on Sunday (0340 GMT Monday). Officials said the truck had been heading to respond to a separate incident when the crash occurred.
US media outlets including CNN and NBC reported that both the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the collision. Meanwhile, 13 others — including 11 passengers and two first responders — were transported to hospital with injuries, according to ABC.
Jazz Aviation said a preliminary passenger list indicated there were 76 people on board the CRJ-900 aircraft, including four crew members.
Following the incident, US aviation authorities ordered flights at the airport to be grounded, warning there was a “high” likelihood the suspension could last for an extended period. 🛫
“The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation,” the port authority said in a statement to AFP.
Emergency response protocols had been “immediately activated,” it added.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board said it had deployed a “go team” to the site to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Jazz Aviation confirmed the aircraft involved was operating flight AC8646 from Montreal to New York. According to flight-tracking service FlightRadar24, the plane “was rolling down the runway when it struck” the rescue vehicle as it crossed its path.
Authorities also warned travellers and residents to expect disruptions around the airport. New York’s emergency management agency advised the public to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel,” and urged people to use alternate routes in the area. ⚠️
The airport had already been dealing with flight disruptions linked to poor weather conditions, according to an update posted on X on Sunday. In addition, travellers had recently faced longer security wait times due to “staffing impacts” tied to a federal funding lapse.
Located in the Queens borough of New York City, LaGuardia is the city’s third-busiest airport. Port authority data shows it served about 33.5 million passengers in 2024 and recently completed an $8 billion redevelopment that modernised terminals and roadways.
The incident adds to a series of deadly aviation accidents in the United States in recent years, including a January 2025 collision between a passenger jet and a US Army helicopter near Washington that killed 67 people.
