Two Pilots Killed as Air Canada Express Jet Collides With Fire Truck at LaGuardia Airport

Two pilots were killed when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport during landing on Sunday afternoon, an incident that shut down one of the nation's busiest airports and triggered a sweeping investigation into how the deadly collision occurred. All passengers aboard the aircraft survived, though several were transported to area hospitals with injuries.

The crash happened at approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern time as the Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft was completing its approach on Runway 22. According to preliminary accounts from airport officials, a fire truck operated by the airport's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting unit was on or near the active runway when the jet touched down. The aircraft struck the truck at landing speed, causing catastrophic damage to the cockpit area and killing both the captain and first officer.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene within minutes, and passengers were evacuated through emergency exits and rear doors of the aircraft. The fuselage remained largely intact behind the cockpit, which officials credited with the survival of the 76 passengers and two flight attendants on board. The fire truck operator sustained serious injuries but was reported to be in stable condition at a nearby hospital.

LaGuardia Airport was immediately closed to all incoming and outgoing traffic following the collision, causing cascading delays and cancellations across the Northeast corridor. Flights were diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and other regional facilities. The airport partially reopened several hours later but operated with reduced capacity through the evening.

The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a team of investigators to the scene Sunday evening. The NTSB said it would examine all aspects of the incident, including air traffic control communications, runway management procedures, the condition and positioning of the fire truck, and the aircraft's approach and landing parameters. Investigators were also examining whether weather conditions or visibility played any role.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that it was conducting its own parallel investigation and said it had grounded the two air traffic controllers who were working the tower at the time of the incident pending a review of their actions. Initial reports indicated that one of the controllers was managing a separate issue involving an odor complaint on a United Airlines aircraft at the time the fire truck was on the runway.

Air Canada issued a statement expressing profound grief over the loss of the two pilots and said the airline was working closely with investigators. The carrier identified the aircraft as being operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner that flies under the Air Canada Express brand. Jazz Aviation said it was providing support to the families of the deceased crew members and to all passengers affected by the incident.

The collision has prompted immediate scrutiny of runway incursion prevention measures at LaGuardia, one of the most operationally complex airports in the country. The airfield's compact layout and heavy traffic volume have long made it a challenging environment for pilots and controllers alike. Aviation safety advocates said the incident underscored longstanding concerns about runway safety protocols and the resources dedicated to preventing exactly this type of catastrophic event.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department would review all relevant safety procedures and called the loss of the two pilots a tragedy that demanded a thorough accounting of what went wrong.