Surveillance Camera Captures Crash of Air Canada Express Aircraft into Airport Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport

The surveillance video that captured the crash of an Air Canada Express passenger jet and an ARFF truck shows the airplane strike the fire truck at the middle rear and continue down the runway while the ARFF truck spins off the runway (New York Post). YouTube Tips ⓘ

Airport security camera video shows a series of emergency vehicles traveling along a taxiway with their lights flashing just before the Air Canada Express passenger jet (Flight 8646) landed and crashed into an ARFF airport fire truck. Truck 1 is the lead truck, occupied by two firefighters. The driver of the fire truck (Truck 1) is heading south, while the aircraft is landing from the driver’s right. An air traffic controller told Truck 1 to stop several times after previously giving permission to cross Runway 4 at the “Delta” taxiway.

The air traffic controller communicating with the fire truck was on a different radio channel (frequency) than the radio channel (frequency) used by the air traffic controller communicating with the Air Canada Express aircraft.

Apparently, the driver of the fire truck (Fire Truck 1) attempted to veer left at the sight of the aircraft approaching. The aircraft struck the middle of the fire truck and toward the back of the fire truck.

The rest of the fire vehicles appear to stop behind the lead fire vehicle before the crashes.

Media analysts and investigators off camera estimate the aircraft was traveling about 100 MPH on impact. An aircraft at 100 MPH would travel about 150 feet per second. With the conditions of darkness and fog and mist, the visibility of the approaching aircraft is certainly an issue. The visibility of the fire truck from the aircraft cockpit is also an issue. Runway 4 is 7,002 feet long and 150 feet wide. Taxiway Delta is between one-third and one-half the distance from the approach edge of Runway 4 or approximately 2700 feet to 2800 feet from the approach edge or threshold of Runway 4.

The crash aftermath left cables, shredded metal, and debris dangling from the mangled cockpit and forward galley. The aircraft was tilted up due to the loss of weight of the aircraft’s nose. The fire truck was flipped onto its side, with most of the damage to its back half of the truck.

Captain Steeeve (@CaptainSteeeve/YouTube) breaks down the tragic runway collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and an airport fire vehicle. YouTube Tips ⓘ

United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duff provides an official update in a press conference at LaGuardia Airport (ABC15 Arizona/ABC affiliate). YouTube Tips ⓘ

UPDATES

Two pilots killed in the crash

One flight attendant was reportedly ejected from the aircraft during 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

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.

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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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