New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) has suspended all flights until at least Monday afternoon following a collision between an Air Canada regional jet and an airport fire truck late Sunday night. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to dozens of passengers, is now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Incident Details
The collision occurred shortly after 11:40 p.m. when an Air Canada CRJ-900, arriving from Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), struck a fire truck responding to an unrelated event on the airfield. The aircraft, operating as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, had just landed and was taxiing when the impact occurred.
Seventy-two passengers and four crew members were on board at the time. According to Jazz Aviation, the regional carrier operating the flight, multiple passengers sustained injuries. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the deaths of both pilots at a Monday morning press conference.
Airport Shutdown and Flight Cancellations
The closure of LaGuardia, a major air travel hub in the Northeast, is expected to last for several hours. As of 7:15 a.m. Monday, over half of all scheduled departures had been canceled, with further disruptions anticipated throughout the day.
Airlines are responding by issuing travel waivers to allow passengers with Monday bookings to adjust their travel plans without incurring change fees. American Airlines, which operates a major hub at LaGuardia’s Terminal B, has announced flexible booking options for passengers affected by the shutdown.
Investigation and Support for Passengers
The NTSB has dispatched investigators to the scene to determine the cause of the collision, following standard protocol for aviation accidents. Air Canada is urging family and friends of passengers on Flight 8646 to contact the airline at 800-961-7099 for support and updates.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees,” Air Canada stated, “and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families.”
The situation remains fluid, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and the airport assesses the timeline for resuming operations.
The shutdown underscores the critical infrastructure risks inherent in large airports, where even minor incidents can have cascading impacts on air travel.
