Air Canada Jet Crash at LaGuardia Airport Leaves Fatalities

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 jet collided with a ground vehicle after landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York, leading to the airport’s closure and major travel disruptions. Reports say the pilot and co-pilot were killed, while dozens of others—including police officers—were injured, though authorities have not officially confirmed casualties. The flight from Montreal had 72 passengers and four crew members on board.

An Air Canada Express regional jet was involved in a serious ground collision shortly after landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Sunday evening, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24. The aircraft struck a ground vehicle while taxiing on the runway, prompting an immediate emergency response and forcing authorities to shut down operations at the busy airport.
The New York Police Department confirmed the incident, noting that emergency teams were quickly deployed to the scene to manage the situation and assist victims. Early reports from US broadcasters CNN and NBC indicated that the crash had severe consequences, with the pilot and co-pilot reportedly losing their lives in the collision involving a police-operated fire truck. In addition to the fatalities, dozens of individuals sustained injuries, including a police sergeant and another officer who suffered broken limbs. Both were said to be receiving treatment at a nearby hospital and were in stable condition.
Despite these reports, authorities have yet to officially confirm the number of casualties or provide a full account of the victims, as investigations are still ongoing. Officials are expected to release more verified details once identification processes and medical assessments are completed.
The US Federal Federal Aviation Administration announced that LaGuardia Airport would remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday (18:00 GMT) to allow investigators and emergency crews to secure the area and begin a thorough examination of the incident. During this period, incoming flights were diverted to nearby airports, while some outbound flights were canceled or instructed to return to their original departure points, causing widespread disruption to travel plans.
The aircraft involved in the collision was identified as a CRJ-900 jet traveling from Montreal. According to Flightradar24, the plane struck the ground vehicle at an estimated speed of about 39 kilometers (24 miles) per hour. The jet is operated by Jazz, a regional partner of Air Canada, and is typically configured to carry up to 76 passengers. Air Canada confirmed that there were 72 passengers and four crew members on board at the time of the incident, all of whom were affected to varying degrees.
Images and videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage to the aircraft, particularly around the nose section, which appeared crushed and tilted upward, suggesting the force of the impact was concentrated at the front of the plane. Emergency responders were seen surrounding the aircraft, working to evacuate passengers and secure the scene.
New York City’s emergency notification system issued alerts warning residents and travelers to expect significant disruptions in the vicinity of the airport, including road closures, heavy traffic, and the presence of emergency personnel. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area to allow rescue and investigation efforts to proceed without interference.
LaGuardia Airport is one of the major aviation hubs in the United States, handling more than 30 million passengers annually. The temporary closure of the airport has had a ripple effect across regional and international travel, highlighting the scale of the disruption caused by the incident. Investigations are expected to focus on the circumstances leading to the collision, including communication between ground control and the aircraft, as well as operational procedures on the runway at the time.