Addis Ababa, March 23, 2026 (FMC) — The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed after their aircraft collided with a Port Authority emergency vehicle while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, authorities confirmed. Several emergency responders were injured, and airport operations were disrupted for hours, Reuters reported.
The Bombardier CRJ‑900 jet, operating as Flight 8646 from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew on board, struck the emergency vehicle, which was responding to another incident on the runway late Sunday night. At least two officers on the fire-rescue team suffered broken limbs and were reported in stable condition.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop, and the airport remained closed for several hours, forcing diversions and delays at nearby airports. Officials expect LaGuardia to resume normal operations after completing inspections of the runway and surrounding areas.
Images and videos from the scene showed visible damage to the front of the aircraft and emergency crews attending the injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.
Passengers and other responders were treated for injuries, though authorities have not yet released a full breakdown of casualties.