Two pilots killed after Air Canada plane hits firetruck at New York Airport

A tragic runway collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York has left two people dead and several others injured after an Air Canada Express regional jet struck a fire truck during landing. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operating as Flight 8646 from Montreal, collided with the airport emergency vehicle late Sunday night, triggering a massive emergency response and forcing authorities to shut down the airport.

According to officials, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members when the accident occurred on Runway 4. The impact caused severe damage to the aircraft’s nose section and resulted in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot. Several others, including passengers and airport personnel, were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Initial reports suggest the fire truck was responding to another incident and had been cleared to cross the runway moments before the aircraft approached for landing. Air traffic control recordings reportedly captured repeated warnings instructing the vehicle to stop shortly before the collision. Investigators are examining these communications and other evidence to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the crash.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop and temporarily closed LaGuardia Airport, causing widespread flight disruptions and diversions to nearby airports. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a formal investigation into the accident as authorities work to determine the cause of the deadly runway collision.