Not to be confused with Air Canada Flight 646.

Air Canada Express Flight 8646
The airport fire truck and aircraft after the accident
Accident
Date March 22, 2026
Summary Collided with an airport firefighting truck while landing; under investigation
Site
  • LaGuardia Airport, New York City, U.S.
  • 40°46′32″N 73°52′44″W / 40.7755°N 73.8789°W / 40.7755; -73.8789
Map
Total fatalities 2
Total injuries 39[1][a]
Aircraft

C-GNJZ, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in 2022
Aircraft type Bombardier CRJ900
Operator Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada Express
IATA flight No. QK8646/AC8646[2]
ICAO flight No. JZA646
Call sign JAZZ 646
Registration C-GNJZ[3]
Flight origin Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, Dorval, Quebec, Canada
Destination LaGuardia Airport, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupants 76
Passengers 72[4]
Crew 4
Fatalities 2[5]
Injuries 37
Survivors 74
Ground casualties
Ground injuries 2
An Oshkosh Striker 1500 similar to the truck involved in the accident

Air Canada Express Flight 8646 was a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport in Quebec, Canada, to LaGuardia Airport in New York, United States. The flight was operated by Jazz Aviation, an airline operating regional flights on behalf of Air Canada under the brand Air Canada Express. On the night of March 22, 2026, the Bombardier CRJ900 serving the flight experienced a runway incursion[6][7] with a LaGuardia airport firefighting truck operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.[8] The truck was crossing the runway to reach an unrelated emergency event as the CRJ900 landed, resulting in a ground collision. The aircraft's cockpit and forward galley sections were destroyed, killing both pilots,[2][9] while a flight attendant, who was seated on a jump-seat near the cockpit, was injured as she was ejected onto the tarmac.[10] Forty-one people, including passengers, crew, and both occupants of the truck, were injured following the collision; nine remained under medical care the following day. Flight 8646 was the first fatal accident at LaGuardia in 34 years, since USAir Flight 405 crashed on the same day in 1992.

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the accident was a 20-year old Bombardier CRJ900LR operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada Express, registered as C-GNJZ. It was delivered new to the airline in late 2005.[11] The aircraft was configured for regional passenger service and was typically used on short— to medium—haul routes within Canada, and between Canada and the United States. It was powered by two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines.[12]

Passengers and crew

There were 76 people on board, including 72 passengers and 4 crew members.[13] The pilots were Captain Antoine Forest, a 30-year-old of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, a 24-year-old of Ottawa, Ontario.[14][15]

Firefighting truck

The airport firefighting truck was an Oshkosh Striker 1500 identified as Truck 1 (marked Truck 35 on the vehicle), and it was operated by the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) unit of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department.[16][17]

Weather

About three hours before the accident, LaGuardia Airport posted on X that weather conditions caused flight disruptions.[18] Heavy rain was reported across the New York City area, with water being seen on the tarmac of LaGuardia Airport. Additionally, visibility was reduced to just 3 mi (4.8 km).[19]

Airport and air traffic control

Two air traffic controllers were working at the airport at the time, although both were working two positions each as part of a nighttime shift. An additional two controllers were present at the airport, but not on duty inside the control room.[20][21][22] The airport controllers were not affected by the 2026 second partial government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding.[23][24]

Accident

LaGuardia ATC transmissions
(expand to view captions)
Diagram of the flight path over LaGuardia

The aircraft departed Montréal–Trudeau International Airport in Montreal at 10:12 p.m. EDT, having been delayed over two hours, en route to LaGuardia Airport in New York City.[25][26]

At 11:18 p.m., United Airlines Flight 2384, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, aborted its takeoff from LaGuardia twice after anti-ice warning lights came on, and declared an emergency after the crew noticed a foul odor in the cabin.[17] Without an open gate for the United flight, an airport firefighting truck and a stair truck were dispatched to assist flight 2384.[17]

At 11:37 p.m., air traffic control (ATC) cleared "Truck 1 and company"[27] to cross runway 4 at taxiway Delta while the Air Canada Express aircraft was on short final. The controller could then be heard telling another aircraft, Frontier 4195, to stop. Immediately thereafter, the controller issued multiple radio transmissions telling Truck 1 to stop, just seconds after clearing it across the runway where the collision would occur.[28][11] ATC audio later released by media outlets captured a controller saying "I messed up" on the frequency shortly after the collision; a Frontier Airlines pilot who saw the collision radioed telling the controller, "[...] you did the best you could".[13][29] It also captured the moment of the initial and the second call to Truck 1: "Frontier 4195, just stop there please. Stop, stop, stop, stop, Truck 1, stop, stop, stop. Stop, Truck 1."[30]

At 11:38 p.m., the aircraft collided with the truck while landing. The aircraft's last recorded ground speed before the collision was 90 knots (170 km/h; 100 mph).[1] ATC dispatched additional airport firefighting trucks to the scene, along with a response from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and New York City Police Department (NYPD). Footage of the aftermath showed the aircraft, which came to rest in the area of taxiway E, tilted upwards and the cockpit and front galley of the aircraft destroyed.[31]

Security camera video shows the aircraft striking the rear-right side of the truck with significant force, causing the truck to roll over. It appears the truck driver saw the jet just before impact and unsuccessfully tried to turn out of the way.[32] Passengers on the plane described feeling the aircraft brake hard immediately after touchdown, followed by a loud bang that threw people against their seats and into the cabin interior. Some passengers reported head injuries and bleeding, and said that they assisted in opening an emergency exit and helping others evacuate down the wing.[13] A passenger told reporters that the pilots "kind of saved our lives" by braking extremely hard just after touchdown, saying he believed the pilot had "incredible reflexes".[13]

Victims

The captain and first officer, Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther,[33][34] were killed as the front of the jet crumpled, while 35 passengers, both flight attendants, and both occupants of the firefighting truck were injured.[35][1]

One flight attendant, seated in a jump seat located behind the cockpit door, was ejected from the aircraft and found over 330 feet (100 m) away from the wreckage. She survived and sustained two shattered legs, a fractured spine, and abrasions.[36][37][38]

The two occupants of the ARFF truck, a Port Authority police officer and sergeant, suffered broken bones[citation needed] and were both transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens in critical but non-life-threatening condition.

Victims were transported to either Elmhurst Hospital or NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, both of which are level 1 trauma centers.[5] Thirty-two of the injured were discharged shortly afterwards, and nine who were more seriously injured remained under hospital care.[39] As of March 27, five people, consisting of four passengers and one flight attendant, were still under stationary treatment in stable condition.[38][needs update]

Aftermath

NTSB video of the scene

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop at the airport.[40] The airport was closed until 2 p.m. the following day. Many flights were diverted to nearby airports, mostly to John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.[35] However, early on March 23, a ground stop was implemented at Newark due to smoke in the air traffic control tower, further straining air traffic in the New York metropolitan area.[41] Runway 4/22, where the incident occurred, remained closed while investigators examined the debris field and reopened at approximately 10 a.m. EDT on March 26.[42][43]

The bodies of the captain and first officer were repatriated to Canada on March 26.[38]

Investigation

NTSB investigators at the scene

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a team to investigate the crash.[44] The Transportation Safety Board of Canada, in accordance with international agreements, also dispatched investigators to assist the NTSB investigation.[45] The NTSB subsequently noted the firefighting truck was not equipped with an ASDE-X transponder.[46] The NTSB released a preliminary report on April 23.[1]

Response

U.S. president Donald Trump called the crash "terrible" and referred to the aviation industry as "a dangerous business".[47] Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani described the incident as "tragic."[48]

Canada's Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon said he had spoken with his American counterpart and that Canadian officials were in New York "to get to the bottom" of the accident, while offering condolences to those affected.[13][49]

Prominent Canadians including MacKinnon and Prime Minister Mark Carney issued statements condemning Michael Rousseau, the chief executive officer of Air Canada, for posting an official corporate video on X expressing condolences almost entirely in English with French subtitles, rather than posting equivalent statements in both languages as required by the Official Languages Act.[50][51][52][53] In response, Rousseau announced that he would retire later in 2026.[54][55]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates expressed condolences towards Canada and the United States, along with the victims' families.[56][57]

See also

  • 2026 in aviation
  • LATAM Airlines Perú Flight 2213

Notes

  1. ^ 2 from the ARFF truck, 37 from the aircraft

References

  1. ^ a b c d Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report (Report). National Transportation Safety Board. April 23, 2026. DCA26MA161. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Playback of flight AC8646 / JZA646". Flightradar24. March 22, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  3. ^ "Canadian Civil Aircraft Register (C-GNJZ)". Transport Canada.
  4. ^ "Air Canada flight collides with a Port Authority vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport". Associated Press. March 23, 2026. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  5. ^ a b Dienst, Jonathan; Shea, Tom (March 23, 2026). "Pilot, co-pilot killed after plane collides with truck on runway at LaGuardia Airport". NBC New York. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
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  7. ^ Revell, Eric (March 23, 2026). "Fatal LaGuardia collision renews focus on runway incursion risks across US". FOXBusiness. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  8. ^ Colley, Mark (March 23, 2026). "Air Canada LaGuardia crash: One of the pilots killed identified; video captures moment of collision between plane, fire truck". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  9. ^ "Canadian investigators to join probe into deadly LaGuardia Airport collision". CBC News. CBC. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  10. ^ "Air Canada pilot killed in LaGuardia crash had been flying since 16, family say". The Independent. March 24, 2026. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Air Canada CRJ collides with fire fighting truck on landing in New York". Flightradar24. March 23, 2026. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  12. ^ "Pilot, co-pilot killed after plane collides with truck on runway at LaGuardia Airport". Associated Press. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c d e "LaGuardia Airport reopening after 2 pilots killed in Air Canada collision". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  14. ^ "Bodies of Air Canada pilots killed in LaGuardia collision to be repatriated". The Globe and Mail. March 26, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  15. ^ Olson, Isaac; Ould-Hammou, Hénia (March 23, 2026). "'Too soon for us to say goodbye,' says brother of Quebec pilot killed in crash at N.Y. airport". CBC News. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  16. ^ "Jazz Aviation CRJ-900 Hits Vehicle At LaGuardia Airport". Aviation Week Network. March 23, 2023. Archived from the original on March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
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  18. ^ @LGAairport (March 22, 2026). "Weather conditions have caused LGA Airport flight disruptions. Check with your airline to determine the status of your flight" (Tweet). Retrieved March 23, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  19. ^ "Plane collides with vehicle at LaGuardia Airport runway; at least 4 hurt, including 2 PAPD officers". WNBC. March 23, 2026. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  20. ^ Krauth, Dan (March 23, 2026). "Air traffic controllers were dealing with different emergency at time of LaGuardia collision". ABC7 New York. Archived from the original on March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  21. ^ Kelly, Kate (March 23, 2026). "FAA Is Investigating if Another Jet's Issue Distracted LaGuardia Air Traffic Controller". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  22. ^ Versprille, Allyson; Johnsson, Julie. "Safety System Failed to Alert LaGuardia Tower Before Crash". MSN.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  23. ^ Peltz, Jennifer (March 23, 2026). "LaGuardia Airport collision between jet and fire truck kills pilot and copilot". PBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  24. ^ "2 killed, dozens injured after Air Canada flight hits fire truck on runway at LaGuardia Airport, official says". KTVZ. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  25. ^ Scott-Turner, Freya (March 23, 2026). "Air Canada plane collision – a timeline". BBC. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  26. ^ "Air Canada 8646". FlightAware. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  27. ^ Terpstra, Patrick (March 23, 2026). "'Stop, truck 1, stop': Audio captures moments before deadly plane crash". Scripps News. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  28. ^ Hradecky, Simon (March 23, 2026). "Accident: Jazz CRJ9 at New York on Mar 22nd 2026, collision with fire truck on runway". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  29. ^ Rahman, Khaleda (March 23, 2026). "LaGuardia plane crash audio reveals aftermath of collision: 'I messed up"". Newsweek. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  30. ^ "'Stop, stop, stop,' air traffic control tells truck in Air Canada crash". CBC. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  31. ^ "Air Canada Express plane hits ground vehicle at New York's La Guardia airport, FlightRadar24 says". The Jerusalem Post. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  32. ^ "Video captures moment Air Canada jet crashed into fire truck at New York airport". India Today. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  33. ^ Baskar, Pranav; Isai, Vjosa; Meko, Hurubie; Onishi, Norimitsu (March 24, 2026). "Air Canada Pilots Killed in LaGuardia Crash Were Early in Flying Careers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  34. ^ "Air Canada pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther died in LaGuardia plane crash". www.bbc.com. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  35. ^ a b Gorman, Jessica; Ali, Ayesha; Margolin, Josh; Crudele, Mark; Shalvey, Kevin (March 23, 2026). "2 dead, LaGuardia Airport closed following collision between Air Canada plane and airport vehicle, officials say". ABC News. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  36. ^ Cecco, Leyland (March 23, 2026). "'A miracle': Canadian flight attendant ejected from plane survives New York crash". The Guardian. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  37. ^ Peltz, Jennifer; White, Ed. "Flight attendant thrown from Air Canada plane survives in a 'total miracle'". AP News. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  38. ^ a b c "The Air Canada Crash: Before and After the Frantic Call to 'Stop, Stop, Stop'". The New York Times. March 29, 2026. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  39. ^ "Two pilots dead after plane and ground vehicle collide at New York's LaGuardia Airport". BBC News. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  40. ^ "Ground stop at LaGuardia Airport due to 'aircraft emergency,' FAA says". CNN. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  41. ^ "Ground stop briefly in place, control tower evacuated at Newark Airport after reports of smoke". ABC News. March 23, 2023. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  42. ^ Helmore, Edward (March 24, 2026). "LaGuardia pilots raised safety alarms months before deadly runway crash". The Guardian. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  43. ^ Herrera, Alexa (March 26, 2026). "Both LaGuardia Airport runways back open days after deadly crash, officials say". CBS News. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  44. ^ @NTSB_Newsroom (March 23, 2026). "The NTSB is launching a go team to investigate the March 22 Jazz Aviation, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, CRJ900, airplane that collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York NY. Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as the on-scene spokesperson, accompanied by Member John DeLeeuw. The investigative team is expected to arrive today. Follow @NTSB_Newsroom for updates" (Tweet). Retrieved March 23, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  45. ^ "'Stop, Truck 1. Stop.' Air traffic control recording captures moments before fatal Air Canada crash". CTV News. March 23, 2026. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  46. ^ Lillich, Cody; Sarabia, Steven (March 25, 2026). "Fire trucks at Phoenix Sky Harbor not equipped with location transponders". Azfamily. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
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  48. ^ Mamdani, Zohran [@NYCMayor] (March 23, 2026). "I have been briefed on the tragic collision that took place at LaGuardia Airport late last night. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and the City is in close contact with federal, state, and local partners. I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives. The flight operator, Air Canada, has set up a hotline for friends and families of affected passengers: 1-800-961-7099. LaGuardia Airport was temporarily closed. The Port Authority advised travelers to check with their airline for the latest flight information before coming to the airport" (Tweet). Retrieved March 23, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  49. ^ Legault, François [@francoislegault] (March 23, 2026). "J'ai appris avec consternation le tragique accident survenu à l'aéroport de LaGuardia, à New York, impliquant un vol d'Air Canada en provenance de Montréal. Mes pensées accompagnent les proches du pilote et du copilote décédés, ainsi que toutes les personnes touchées par cet événement" [I learned with consternation of the tragic accident that occurred at LaGuardia Airport in New York, involving an Air Canada flight arriving from Montreal. My thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased pilot and co-pilot, as well as with everyone affected by this event.] (Tweet) (in Canadian French). Retrieved March 23, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
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  53. ^ Schmunk, Rhianna (March 24, 2026). "Air Canada CEO summoned to Ottawa over English-only condolence video for LaGuardia crash". CBC News. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  54. ^ Dion, Mathieu (March 30, 2026). "Air Canada CEO Quits After Furor Over Crash Condolence Video". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  55. ^ Yousif, Nadine (March 30, 2026). "Air Canada CEO to retire after English-only condolence video controversy". BBC News. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  56. ^ "UAE Expresses Solidarity with Canada and the United States and Offers Condolences Over Air Canada Express Crash Victims". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  57. ^ ""الإمارات تتضامن مع كندا والولايات المتحدة وتعزي في ضحايا حادثة طائرة "إير كندا إكسبرس" [UAE expresses solidarity with Canada, United States, offers condolences over Air Canada Express crash victims]. Emirates News Agency (in Arabic). March 23, 2026. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
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