Air Canada Plane Collides with Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport, Killing Two Pilots

New York’s LaGuardia Airport reopened Monday afternoon after a tragic collision between an Air Canada Express flight and a Port Authority fire truck Sunday night resulted in the deaths of the pilots. The incident also injured dozens of passengers and crew, adding to ongoing travel disruptions caused by the partial government shutdown.

Details of the Collision

The collision occurred around 11:40 p.m. On Sunday, when a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle on a runway. The fire truck was responding to a separate incident at the time of the impact, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey CNN.

Preliminary analysis indicates the jet collided with the fire truck at 104 miles per hour CNN. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its nose, which was tilted upward after the impact. Surveillance footage captured the moment of the collision CNN.

Injuries and Response

There were 72 passengers and four crew members on board the Air Canada flight. Forty-one passengers and crew were transported to local hospitals, with 32 subsequently released, according to Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia CNN. Two members of the fire truck crew were also hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition CNN. One unaccompanied minor was among the passengers on the flight.

Airport Closure and Investigation

LaGuardia Airport was closed following the collision and reopened around 2 p.m. ET on Monday CNN. The closure, combined with the partial government shutdown, contributed to widespread travel disruptions. More than a dozen flights were diverted to other airports or returned to their origin CNN.

The U.S. Transportation secretary and Federal Aviation Administration chief held a news conference at 3:15 p.m. ET inside the airport to provide updates. An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway, with authorities examining communications between the aircraft, the fire truck and the air traffic control tower CNN.

LaGuardia Airport Background

LaGuardia Airport, New York City’s third-busiest airport, served 33.5 million passengers in 2024 CNN. The airport recently completed an $8 billion redevelopment project, upgrading its infrastructure with new terminals and roadways.