LaGuardia closed after runway collision: What happened and when will the airport reopen?
New York City’s LaGuardia Airport is to remain closed until later on Monday, after an Air Canada Express flight collided with a truck on a runway.
New York City’s LaGuardia Airport is to remain closed until Monday afternoon at the earliest, after two people were killed when an incoming plane collided with a vehicle on a runway.
What happened at LaGuardia?
Late on Sunday, an Air Canada Express flight struck a fire truck on LaGuardia’s runway four, according to a statement by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bi-state agency that runs the airport. The emergency vehicle, operated by the Port Authority, “was responding to a separate incident”, the statement added.
“Emergency response protocols were immediately activated," the Port Authority said. “The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director. The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate…
— LaGuardia Airport (@LGAairport) March 23, 2026
Where was the flight travelling from?
The Air Canada Express flight, operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving at LaGuardia from Montreal. In a press release, Jazz Aviation said there were 72 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900. The incident occurred at “approximately 11:47PM”, Jazz Aviation said.
Per the flight-tracking website Flight Radar, Air Canada Express flight 8646 had departed Montreal at 10:35 p.m., and landed at LaGuardia at 11:37 p.m.
In the wake of the collision, the U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says LaGuardia won’t reopen until at least 2:00 p.m. ET on Monday.
Pilots died in collision, Port Authority confirms
In a press conference early on Monday morning, Kathryn Garcia, the Port Authority’s executive director, announced that the plane’s pilot and co-pilot were killed in the collision. “Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased,” Garcia said.
Garcia also said that 41 passengers and crew were hospitalized with injuries, including two people who were on board the Port Authority fire truck. She said that “some” of those injured are in a “serious” condition, but revealed that 32 people have since been released from hospital.
Garcia said the collision “occurred during landing”, but did not give details on the aircraft’s speed at the time of the incident. Revealing that investigators from the U.S.’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have now arrived at LaGuardia to conduct a probe into the accident, she said: “NTSB will determine the speed of the aircraft.”
Garcia added that LaGuardia’s scheduled closure until 2 p.m. is “subject to change”, depending on the requirements and progress of the NTSB investigation.
Air Canada emergency phoneline:
Air Canada says it has set up a helpline for friends and family of passengers:
We have set up a phone line for friends and family of passengers on Air Canada Express flight #AC8646 on Mar. 22,2026; they can call 1-800-961-7099 for assistance.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment