A pilot and co-pilot were killed late Sunday night, March 22, 2026, after a passenger jet collided with a fire truck on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, triggering a major aviation incident that temporarily halted operations at the busy airport.
The Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express banner, was arriving from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members when it struck the emergency vehicle, which had been cleared to cross the runway during a separate response.
The impact destroyed the cockpit, killing both pilots instantly. Several passengers and crew sustained injuries, while personnel in the fire truck were seriously hurt but survived.
Emergency responders swiftly evacuated the passengers, preventing further fatalities. Authorities confirmed that no passengers died in the crash.
READ ALSO:Â Six Killed, One Missing As Qatar Military Helicopter Crashes At Sea
The collision forced LaGuardia Airport to shut down temporarily, with flights cancelled or diverted as investigators secured the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have launched a comprehensive investigation.
Officials are reviewing air traffic control communications, runway clearance procedures, and the sequence that allowed both the aircraft and the fire truck onto the runway simultaneously.
Aviation safety experts said the accident underscores the need for stricter coordination between aircraft and ground operations at high-traffic airports.
Authorities are expected to release more details in the coming days.