Air Canada Flight 8646: Collision with Fire Truck Kills Pilots at LaGuardia Airport
New York, NY – A collision between Air Canada Express Flight 8646 and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026, resulted in the deaths of both pilots and injuries to dozens of others. The incident, involving a Bombardier CRJ900 operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada Express, has prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
What Happened?
The Air Canada Express flight, originating from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, collided with a fire truck on the runway at approximately 11:40 PM local time. Audio recordings from the air traffic control tower captured a controller urgently instructing, “Truck one, stop, stop, stop!” moments before the impact. The fire truck had been dispatched minutes earlier in response to a report of an odor on another aircraft, according to Port Authority executive director Kathryn Garcia.
Eyewitness Accounts
Passengers on board Flight 8646 described a jarring impact. Rebecca Liquori, a passenger arriving from Montreal, reported a loud “boom” immediately after landing. “As we were descending, we hit a lot of turbulence,” she told News12 Long Island. “Then we landed very roughly… Everyone felt it. It was like the plane jolted and you heard the pilot try to brake trying to prevent the collision.” Another passenger, Jack Cabot, described the scene as chaotic, with passengers screaming and hiding.
Leo Medina, who was on another plane on the tarmac, said, “We were literally only about 100 meters away. It felt like the plane was splitting in two.”
Casualties and Response
The pilots have been identified as Antoine Forest, 30, of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and Mackenzie Gunther. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bran Bedford described them as “two young men at the start of their careers.” Forty-one people were injured in the collision, with some sustaining serious injuries. Two members of the fire truck crew as well remain hospitalized. A flight attendant was reportedly found alive, strapped to her seat after falling through a hole in the plane’s floor, suffering serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the crash, LaGuardia Airport was temporarily closed, causing significant travel disruptions. US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts, stating, “As you saw last night, seat belts do save lives.”
Investigation Underway
The NTSB is leading the investigation into the cause of the collision. Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed that investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which were undamaged in the crash. The team is analyzing the recorders and documenting a “large amount of debris” at the scene. The runway will remain closed for the duration of the investigation.
Official Statements
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the crash “very sad,” while US President Donald Trump described it as “terrifying.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the quick actions of emergency responders and highlighted the calm response of passengers who assisted one another.
Background
Air Canada Express Flight 8646 is a regularly scheduled international passenger flight operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional carrier. Jazz Aviation is not owned by Air Canada but by a holding company called Chorus.