An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority vehicle upon landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals and temporarily closing the airport.

The CRJ-900 aircraft, arriving from Montreal, was traveling at approximately 24 miles per hour when it hit the vehicle shortly before midnight, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24.

In a news conference, Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia confirmed that two pilots lost their lives in the collision. Over 40 passengers, crew members, and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting personnel were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment, she reported.

“Currently, 32 of those individuals have been discharged, though there are still some serious injuries,” Garcia stated. “Tragically, the deaths of the two pilots have been confirmed, and Air Canada’s care team is in the process of notifying their families.”

The aircraft involved in the incident was operated by Jazz Aviation, which partners with Air Canada for regional flights. Both Air Canada and Jazz Aviation have acknowledged the incident to Fox News Digital.

The jet was operated by Jazz Aviation, Air Canada’s regional partner. Air Canada and Jazz Aviation confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital.

“Flight 8646 was en route to LGA from Montréal (YUL),” Jazz Aviation said in a statement to 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 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for all planes at the airport, saying there was an emergency without offering specific details. The airport is expected to be closed until 2 p.m. Monday, the FAA said. 

LaGuardia’s website showed arriving planes had been diverted to other airports or returned to where they took off from.

The Port Authority confirmed that the jet collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle.

“At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident,” a Port Authority spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Emergency response protocols were immediately activated,” the statement continued. “The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director. The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation.”

The spokesperson added: “This is a developing situation based on preliminary information. The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities, and will provide additional updates as more details become available.”

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy’s office also confirmed to Fox News Digital that the flight crashed with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport after the plane landed late Sunday night and that the flight included four crew members — the captain, first officer and two flight attendants.

The New York Fire Department said in a statement that it was responding to an incident involving a plane and a vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport, although it did not provide additional details.

The New York City Police Department confirmed the collision but did not offer further information.

Multiple videos taken at the scene showed the jet with severe damage to the front of the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is “launching a go team to investigate the March 22 Jazz Aviation, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, CRJ900, airplane that collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the FAA, NTSB and LaGuardia Airport for additional information.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management said travelers should expect road closures, traffic delays and cancellations near the airport.  

Emergency personnel respond to an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

Air Canada said it was setting up a phone line for loved ones of the passengers to call for assistance. The number is: 1-800-961-7099.

The incident came amid weekslong turmoil at airports across the country amid a funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security, which has caused long lines and left Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees working without being paid for more than a month. 

Some TSA workers have quit and security lines at many airports left travelers waiting for hours. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are slated to deploy to airports Monday to help the TSA. 

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