New York, NY – Operations at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) were brought to a standstill late Sunday night after an Air Canada Express plane collided with a ground vehicle on the runway. The incident, which occurred around 11:38 p.m. Eastern Time, led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue a ground stop for all flights into and out of the busy New York City airport.
The aircraft involved was a CRJ-900 regional jet, operated by Air Canada’s regional partner Jazz Aviation, which had arrived from Montreal. Flight tracking data indicated the plane struck the ground vehicle at a speed of approximately 39 kilometers per hour (24 mph). While initial reports suggested the vehicle was a fire truck, details about the specific type of ground vehicle and its occupants are still emerging.
In the latest update it has been confirmed the pilot and co-pilot of the plane were killed, and 41 others were injured with some with multiple injuries. Passengers were reportedly evacuated onto the tarmac following the collision. The full impact on travelers and the timeline for the airport’s reopening remain uncertain, with the FAA having previously suggested the airport could remain shut until at least 2:00 p.m. local time on Monday. Travelers are advised to confirm their flight status directly with their airlines.
Jazz Aviation, which operates as Air Canada Express, confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the incident at LaGuardia Airport overnight. In a statement, it identified the plane in question as Flight 8646 from Montreal to LaGuardia and said the aircraft is a CRJ-900. It said 72 passengers and four crew members were on board, but said these are preliminary numbers from its passenger list that are “subject to confirmation.”
The FAA initially announced the ground stop due to an “emergency” and indicated a high probability of an extension. LaGuardia’s website showed that arriving flights were being diverted to other airports or returned to their origin cities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and is expected to lead the investigation into the incident.
