Two Pilots Killed After Air Canada Jet Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia

Two pilots are dead and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada aircraft collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, triggering a major emergency response and forcing the temporary closure of the airport.

Authorities confirmed that the Air Canada Express flight, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, struck a Port Authority rescue and firefighting truck shortly after landing on the runway.

The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the incident. Officials said 41 individuals were transported to hospital, including 39 passengers and two officers who were inside the fire truck. The injured are reported to be in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.

New York Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed the deaths of the two pilots, describing the incident as a “tragic loss” as investigations get underway.

Preliminary information indicates the fire truck had been responding to a separate aircraft reporting an onboard odor issue when it entered the runway. Audio recordings from air traffic control suggest there may have been a miscommunication, with a controller heard urgently instructing the vehicle to stop moments before impact.

The collision prompted an immediate ground stop at LaGuardia, with the airport remaining closed until at least 2:00 p.m. Monday.

Nearly 600 flights were cancelled, causing widespread disruption for travelers.