Late Sunday night, New York’s LaGuardia Airport found itself at the center of a dramatic and unsettling incident when an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle while landing, triggering an immediate airport closure and sparking a major emergency response. The collision, which occurred on March 22, 2026, just before midnight, left the front of the aircraft severely damaged, disrupted travel plans for thousands, and raised urgent questions about safety protocols at one of the country’s busiest airports.
According to multiple news outlets including KTLA, Reuters, and Fox News Digital, the aircraft involved was a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express banner. Flight 8646 (also referred to as JZA646/QK646 in air traffic records) had departed Montreal around 10:35 p.m. Eastern Time and was carrying approximately 72 passengers and four crew members. As the plane touched down on runway four at LaGuardia at about 11:47 p.m., it collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle that was reportedly responding to a separate incident on the airfield.
Eyewitnesses and footage posted to social media captured the aftermath: the aircraft’s nose was visibly crumpled, torn metal and exposed structure clear to see, and the fuselage angled upward with the rear of the plane on the ground. Passengers were seen deplaning via portable stairs, many appearing shaken but moving steadily. The New York City Fire Department confirmed its response to what it described as “an incident involving a plane and a vehicle on the runway,” and warned the public via X (formerly Twitter) to “expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays & emergency personnel near LaGuardia Airport in Queens.”
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated that the jet struck the vehicle at about 24 miles per hour (39 kilometers per hour)—a relatively low speed for a landing but still enough to cause significant damage. The speed and angle of impact likely contributed to the aircraft’s nose being so badly wrecked, as seen in photographs from the scene published by Business Insider and Fox News Digital. The front of the plane was shown lying on the tarmac at an awkward tilt, the damage unmistakable.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reacted swiftly, issuing a ground stop order at 12:04 a.m. Eastern Time. This effectively halted all air traffic into and out of LaGuardia, with the agency citing an “emergency” as the cause. Arriving flights were either diverted to other airports or sent back to their points of origin, and the airport’s website listed the closure as likely to remain in effect until at least 5:30 a.m. GMT, with a high probability of extension. Some FAA notices suggested the shutdown could last until 6:00 p.m. GMT.
Port Authority officials confirmed the details in statements to several outlets, emphasizing that “emergency response protocols were immediately activated” and that “the Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director.” The airport closure was necessary, they said, “to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced it was launching a team to investigate the incident, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the collision.
Air traffic control recordings, obtained and reported by Airways and Business Insider, provided a chilling glimpse into the moments before the crash. In the audio, a vehicle identified as “Truck 1 & Company” requested permission to cross runway four at Delta and was cleared by the controller. Mere seconds later, the controller urgently called out, “Frontier 195, stop, stop, truck 1...stop, truck 1...” in an attempt to avert disaster. Shortly after, the controller confirmed, “JAZZ646 collided with vehicle.” The recording also included instructions for other aircraft to go around or change runways, as Runway 4/22 was closed following the incident.
Despite the dramatic scene and the extensive damage to the aircraft, as of the latest statements from officials, there was no confirmed information regarding injuries or fatalities among passengers or crew. Social media posts and some early reports had suggested the possibility of serious injuries, including among the flight’s pilots, but these claims had not been substantiated by authorities at the time of publication. The preliminary passenger list indicated 72 passengers and four crew members were on board, but officials stressed this information was still being verified.
LaGuardia Airport, one of the three major commercial airports serving New York City, is no stranger to disruptions, but the scale and nature of this incident set it apart. With emergency vehicles flooding the airfield, police and firefighters responding en masse, and the airport’s entire operation grinding to a halt, the ripple effects were felt far beyond Queens. Travelers were left stranded, and the closure created a domino effect of delays and diversions across the region’s airspace.
In their official statements, both Air Canada and Jazz Aviation acknowledged the incident and pledged to cooperate fully with investigators. “Flight 8646 was en route to LGA from Montréal (YUL),” Jazz Aviation told Fox News Digital. “The preliminary passenger list indicates the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members, although this is subject to confirmation. The incident occurred at approximately 11:47PM on March 22, 2026.” The Port Authority echoed this, noting that the vehicle involved was a rescue and firefighting truck responding to a separate emergency at the time of the collision.
As the investigation unfolds, attention is focusing on the sequence of events that led to the vehicle being on the runway at the same time as the landing aircraft. The air traffic control audio suggests that the vehicle had been given clearance to cross, but the subsequent urgent calls from the controller indicate a breakdown in communication or situational awareness. The NTSB’s probe will likely examine these factors in detail, along with airport procedures, vehicle operator training, and the performance of the air traffic control team.
Meanwhile, New York’s emergency management authority urged residents and travelers to “use alternate routes” and expect continued disruptions as the response and investigation continue. The FAA, Port Authority, and NTSB are all expected to release further updates as more information becomes available.
The collision at LaGuardia is a stark reminder of the complexity and high stakes of airport operations, particularly at major hubs. While commercial aviation is statistically among the safest forms of travel, incidents like this expose the vulnerabilities that can arise when multiple crises intersect on a busy runway. For now, the focus remains on determining exactly what went wrong—and ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent a recurrence.