Two pilots dead after Air Canada Express aircraft collides with fire truck at LaGuardia Airport

An Air Canada Express aircraft arriving from Montreal was involved in a runway collision at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, leaving both pilots dead and dozens of passengers injured, according to airline and U.S. officials.

The flight, AC8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, landed around 11:30 p.m. when it struck a Port Authority fire truck near the runway. Authorities said the vehicle had been responding to a separate emergency call at the time of the collision.

According to air traffic control recordings, the fire vehicle was initially cleared to cross part of the tarmac. Controllers later issued repeated warnings to stop after recognizing a potential conflict, but the aircraft and vehicle collided before corrective action could be taken.

Air Canada said 72 passengers and four crew members were on board. U.S. officials reported that 41 people were transported to hospital, with nine remaining in care, some in serious condition. The aircraft sustained significant damage to its front section, where the Canadian pilot and co-pilot were located.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation. It is not yet confirmed whether procedural or communication failures contributed to the collision. Connect Newsroom contacted the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for comment. No response by publication time.