An Air Canada Express regional jet (Flight 8646) from Montréal collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, March 22, 2026, killing both the pilot and co‑pilot and injuring dozens more. The collision, one of the deadliest at LaGuardia in more than three decades, occurred as the aircraft was landing on Runway 4 in misty conditions.
The Bombardier CRJ‑900 jet, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members when the impact destroyed the cockpit and nose section of the aircraft. Emergency responders evacuated the injured; 41 people were hospitalized, including 39 passengers and crew as well as two occupants of the fire truck, who suffered broken bones but are in stable condition.
Among the deceased were Captain Antoine Forest (38) of Peterborough, Ontario, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther (30) of Coteau‑du‑Lac, Quebec. Both are being remembered by colleagues for their dedication and professionalism; officials said their actions likely prevented further casualties.
Investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are leading the probe. Early findings suggest air traffic control cleared the fire truck to cross the runway moments before the plane landed, and that the truck lacked a transponder, meaning ground radar did not alert controllers to its presence. Multiple stop warnings were issued to the vehicle seconds before impact, but they came too late to prevent the crash.
The airport was closed temporarily, reopening one runway by early Monday afternoon, but widespread delays and cancellations continued as debris was cleared and investigations began.
