Mar 25, 2026 - Two pilots were killed when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night.
The aircraft, identified as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, was landing at the airport when it struck the emergency vehicle. The collision occurred around 11 p.m. local time on March 22. Both the captain and first officer died from injuries sustained in the impact. The pilots were identified as Antoine Forest and MacKenzie Gunther, both Canadian.
According to preliminary reports from the National Transportation Safety Board and airport authorities, the fire truck was responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight that had declared an emergency on an adjacent runway. The truck was positioned on the active runway used by the incoming Air Canada jet.
The regional jet, operating from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, carried 48 passengers and four crew members. Forty-one people on board sustained injuries, with some requiring hospitalization. Emergency responders treated passengers for cuts, bruises and other trauma at the scene. No injuries were reported among ground personnel on the fire truck.
LaGuardia Airport was closed for several hours following the collision, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations that affected thousands of passengers into Monday. The airport resumed limited operations early Monday morning and returned to normal scheduling later that day.
The NTSB has launched a full investigation into the incident. Investigators recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft. Officials are examining air traffic control communications, runway lighting, and the positioning of emergency vehicles. A preliminary review indicated that a runway incursion warning system may not have activated as expected.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates LaGuardia, confirmed that the fire truck involved was part of the airport's emergency response fleet. No details have been released about the condition of the truck or the specific circumstances that placed it on the runway at the time of the landing.
Air Canada expressed condolences to the families of the pilots and said it was cooperating fully with investigators. The airline arranged for passenger support services, including counseling and alternative travel arrangements.
As of Wednesday, the wreckage remained on the runway under NTSB supervision while examination continued. No additional details on the cause have been released, and the investigation is expected to take several months.