Two pilots lost their lives after an Air Canada regional aircraft collided with an airport emergency vehicle late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport, in what officials are calling one of the most serious incidents at the airport in decades.
Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, had just landed with 72 passengers and four crew members on board when it struck a Port Authority fire-rescue truck at approximately 11:40 p.m., authorities said. The aircraft was reportedly traveling at around 30 mph at the time of impact.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the scene as unprecedented in recent memory.
“This was a disaster the likes of which we have not seen here in three decades,” Hochul said during a press conference at the airport.
Confusion Moments Before Impact
Preliminary air traffic control audio suggests there may have been confusion in the moments leading up to the collision. Recordings indicate a controller initially cleared the fire-rescue vehicle to cross the runway before urgently instructing it to stop.
In one recording, a controller can be heard saying, “I messed up.”
The emergency vehicle had been responding to a separate incident involving a reported odor aboard a United Airlines flight elsewhere at the airport, where crew members had reported feeling unwell.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation into the crash. Officials emphasized that it is too early to determine the exact cause.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said authorities would not speculate while the inquiry is ongoing.
“I can’t give you specifics on what went wrong,” Duffy said, adding that investigators are examining multiple factors, including air traffic control procedures and staffing levels.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed that staffing, communication protocols, and real-time tracking systems will all be part of the probe. Investigators are also reviewing data from the Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE) system to determine whether controllers had accurate visibility of both the aircraft and the vehicle prior to the collision.
Both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have been recovered and will be analyzed as part of the investigation.
Casualties and Injuries
In addition to the two pilots who were killed, at least 41 passengers were treated for injuries, some of them serious, according to the Port Authority. Most have since been released from the hospital.
The two individuals inside the fire-rescue vehicle—identified as Sgt. Michael Orsillo and Officer Adrian Baez were injured but are expected to recover.
Operational Disruptions Continue
Although LaGuardia Airport has since reopened, officials warned that operations will remain limited.
“We are going to be running at very reduced capacity for some time,” Duffy said.
The incident adds further strain to an aviation sector already facing ongoing challenges, including a shortage of air traffic controllers and reduced staffing in key operational areas.
A Broader Industry Concern
The crash is likely to intensify scrutiny of air traffic control systems and staffing levels across the United States. Investigators are expected to examine whether systemic issues such as workforce shortages or communication breakdowns may have contributed to the incident.
As the investigation continues, authorities have pledged a thorough and transparent process.
“We don’t speculate,” Homendy said. “We don’t take one person at their word.”
