UPDATES
Two pilots killed in the crash.
Two Port Authority firefighters (an officer and a sergeant) were seriously injured and hospitalized
41 people hospitalized in total
32 people treated and released
Over 60 passengers and crew were initially evaluated by EMS.
Firefighters and emergency personnel at LaGuardia Airport responded Sunday night, March 22, 2026 to a collision involving a fire truck and an Air Canada passenger jet.
Initially, official information about injuries or damage was not available. Initially, there were media reports that four firefighters were critically injured. An update Monday indicated there were two firefighters critically injured. An update about 1:45 a.m. EDT indicated that on the aircraft, there were two fatalities, among 72 passengers and 4 crew members. FDNY field command triage indicated four Code Red tags and two Code Black tags.
Initially, Fire Truck 1 was given permission to cross Runway 4 at “Delta” taxiway marker (not Delta Airlines). Truck 1 is an ARFF fire truck (Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting).
Next, an air traffic controller was directing ARFF Truck 1 to stop before the crash. Then after the crash, the air traffic controller ordered Delta Flight 2603, which was on approach to Runway 4, to go around.
The aircraft, an Air Canada Bombardier CRJ-900, showed significant damage after the crash with the nose of the aircraft tilted upward significantly. Seventy-two passengers were aboard the Air Canada Bombardier CRJ-900.
Publicly available flight paths indicate that the Air Canada Flight 8646 was landing just before Delta Flight 2603. Apparently, the Air Canada flight, while landing on Runway 4, crashed with Fire Truck 1, which was crossing Runway 4.
After the crash, Runway 4/22 was closed. Then, immediately after the runway closure, the entire airport was closed.
Runway 4 heads northeast. Runway 22 heads southwest on the same pavement. The Air Canada commuter jet (JZA646) was operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada Express, and was headed northeast during approach and landing on Runway 4.
At 12:57 AM EDT, the FAA National Airspace System Status indicated that LaGuardia Airport (LGA) was closed. The airport is expected to be closed until 2:00 p.m. EDT Monday, March 23, 2026.
LGA Airport Closure from FAA
National Airspace System Status
La Guardia is closed
23/2:16 AM CDT—23/1:00 PM CDT
Current Airport Config.
Arrival Runway: CLOSED
Departure Runway: CLOSED
🚨#BREAKING: At this time, at least 70 people have been injured following a collision involving a plane and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Officials at the on-site have confirmed that two individuals have been pronounced dead at the scene. pic.twitter.com/2ovwJ7wf8i
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 23, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: LaGuardia Airport reports a collision between an aircraft and a fire truck on Runway 4. Authorities have not yet released details on injuries or the extent of the damage.
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 23, 2026
According to the National Weather Service, there were light winds from the East with light rain, fog and mist at the time of the crash. Air temperature was about 46°F to 48°F.
Before the crash, LaGuardia Airport official posted on X that weather conditions caused flight disruptions.
DEVELOPING …
IMPORTANT: This is a breaking news report that may not be updated consistently. Items may be updated in a short note format.
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