New York Plane Accident: Pilot and Co-Pilot Killed in LaGuardia Airport Crash; ATC Audio Surfaces

The pilot and co-pilot of the Air Canada Express flight died in the crash at LaGuardia Airport on Monday, March 23. According to local NBC News, the accident took place on runway number 4 when a fire truck collided with a Bombardier CRJ-900 twin-jet aircraft.

The plane landed at around 11.45 pm ET (3.35 am UK time) from Montreal when the crash occurred, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Jazz Aviation, which operates as  Air Canada Express, has confirmed the crash that its Flight 8646 from Montreal to LaGuardia was involved in a collision with a fire truck.

Also Read | LaGuardia Airport Plane Accident: At Least 2 Killed, Several Injured After Air Canada Express CRJ-900 Collides With Fire Truck on Runway.

According to the operator, 72 passengers and four crew members were on board at the time of the crash. Emergency helpline (1-800-961-7099) has been set up for the stranded passengers of Air Canada Express.

According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft (registration C-GNJZ) was decelerating on Runway 4 when it struck a Port Authority Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle near Taxiway E. 

ATC Communications Surfaced

Audio from air traffic control when an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York:

"Stop Truck 1, stop!"

"We were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up."pic.twitter.com/gb18aAJQW3

— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) March 23, 2026

Air Traffic Controller (ATC) communicated with pilots at the time of the crash. The two port authority personnel, a sergeant and an officer, were inside the fire truck, which was identified as  “Truck 1”. The audio, which surfaced on social media, shows an ATC officer clearing “Truck 1” to cross Runway 4 at Taxiway D. In a second, the controller can be heard saying "stop Truck 1, stop, stop, stop!" in panic.

Also Read | New York Plane Accident: At Least 70 Passengers Injured After Air Canada Express Collides With Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport (Watch Videos).

According to the Air Live report, the Air Canada Express was travelling at a ground speed of approximately 21 to 24 knots at the time of hitting the truck. 

The FAA has issued a ground stop for all arriving and departing flights at LaGuardia. The airport is currently estimated to remain closed until at least 2:00 PM ET today. Hundreds of flights have been diverted to Newark (EWR) and John F. Kennedy (JFK) airports.