Air Canada Pilots Killed in Fire Truck Crash

Tragic Collision at LaGuardia

StudioX News | March 24, 2026 | New York, NY

In a shocking runway incident, an Air Canada Express flight collided with a Port Authority fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night, claiming the lives of two pilots and injuring dozens. The crash, captured on video, has sparked urgent questions about air traffic control and ground safety protocols.

Incident Details

Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, was arriving from Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport with 72 passengers and four crew members aboard. The plane touched down on Runway 4 around 9:37 p.m. local time when it struck the fire truck, which was responding to an unrelated emergency involving a United Airlines flight reporting a cabin odor.

The impact severed the aircraft’s nose and cockpit, flipping the fire truck and scattering debris across the runway. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “like the plane got cut in half,” with passengers scrambling to evacuate through emergency exits.

Victims and Response

The pilots, identified as Québec native Antoine Forest, 30, and his co-pilot (name pending confirmation), were killed instantly. Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau expressed deep sorrow, calling it a profound loss for the airline family.

At least 41 people were hospitalized, including passengers, a flight attendant, and firefighters—a Port Authority sergeant and police officer, both in stable condition. Most have been released, but several remain under care for serious injuries.

LaGuardia shut down temporarily, reopening Monday at reduced capacity; Runway 4 stays closed until at least Friday.

Investigation Underway

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leads the probe, with Canadian Transportation Safety Board investigators assisting. Black boxes—cockpit voice and flight data recorders—have been recovered intact for analysis.

Audio from the tower reveals controllers urgently yelling “Truck One, stop! Stop!” seconds before impact, amid distractions from the prior United emergency. Focus areas include ATC clearances, staffing (rumors of understaffing denied), weather, and runway incursion protocols.

A preliminary NTSB report is expected within 30 days, with a full cause determination in 12-24 months.

Broader Implications

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted needs for more funding to modernize air traffic control amid rising near-miss incidents. This marks LaGuardia’s first fatal crash in over 30 years, renewing calls for enhanced ground safety measures.

Air Canada and Jazz are providing support to affected families and passengers. Updates will follow as investigations progress.

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