Two pilots killed as Air Canada Express jet slams into fire truck on LaGuardia runway
Deadly Crash at LaGuardia
Tragedy struck just before midnight at New York’s LaGuardia Airport when an Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 jet hit a fire truck on a rain-slicked runway. Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, had just landed from Montreal when the collision happened.
Both pilots died at the scene. The fire truck, belonging to the Port Authority Police Department’s Rescue Fire Fighter Unit, was responding to a separate emergency when disaster struck. Two officers inside suffered serious bone fractures but are expected to survive.
A female flight attendant survived a miraculous escape after being ejected from the plane while still strapped to her seat and was pulled to safety by first responders.
Harrowing Moments on the Runway
- There were 72 passengers and four crew onboard during the crash.
- The plane’s nose was crushed and pitched skyward; the fire truck flipped onto its side, mangled beyond recognition.
- Debris scattered across the runway as emergency teams rushed to the scene within minutes.
- Many passengers are believed to be Orthodox Jewish New Yorkers. So far, no passenger fatalities have been reported.
FDNY units arrived quickly after reports flooded in around 11:38 pm. Air traffic control radioed the chilling message to Flight 8646: “I see you collided with the vehicle. Just hold position.”
Airport Shutdown as Investigation Launches
The cause of the deadly collision remains unknown. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched full investigations. Meanwhile, LaGuardia Airport is completely shut down with flights grounded as officials comb through the wreckage.
New York had suffered heavy rain before the crash, though it’s unclear if weather played a role. Earlier warnings had indicated rainy conditions could disrupt airport operations.
Authorities have remained tight-lipped on how a routine landing turned fatal, leaving the city in shock as the probe continues.
