Deadly Collision at LaGuardia Airport Shocks NYC

On the evening of March 22, 2026, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ‑900 regional jet operating from Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport, began its final approach to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.

By SyndicatedNews Aviation | SNN.BZ

On the evening of March 22, 2026, Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ‑900 regional jet operating from Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport, began its final approach to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. The flight, carrying both passengers and crew, was scheduled to land around 11:30 p.m. local time, as reported by CBS News and Wikipedia.

As the aircraft neared Runway 4, a Port Authority fire truck unexpectedly crossed the active runway while responding to an earlier emergency. According to eyewitness accounts and Business Insider, the pilots had only seconds to react, and the plane collided with the vehicle just as it touched down.

The impact was catastrophic. Both the pilot and co‑pilot were killed, confirmed by ABC News, and multiple passengers, along with the two firefighters in the truck, sustained injuries. Initial reports indicated that at least 41 people required hospitalization, with some patients in critical condition, according to Al Jazeera.

Emergency responders acted immediately to evacuate passengers and secure the crash site. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes on the tarmac as firefighters, paramedics, and airport personnel worked through the night to transport the injured to nearby hospitals (CBS News). The airport was swiftly closed, and air traffic was halted as debris was cleared and safety inspections were initiated (Business Insider).

By the early hours of March 23, authorities confirmed that LaGuardia would remain closed for several hours while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began their formal investigation (Wikipedia). Investigators recovered the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders, and they began analyzing air traffic control communications, runway procedures, and the actions of the fire truck crew leading up to the collision (New York Post).

The crash caused widespread disruptions across the region. Hundreds of flights were canceled or diverted to nearby airports including John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International, leaving travelers stranded and creating extensive delays throughout the New York air travel network (CBS News; Business Insider).

By mid-afternoon on March 23, LaGuardia reopened partially, allowing limited operations to resume while investigators continued to study the scene and assess airport safety (Business Insider). Questions remain about why the emergency vehicle was on the runway at that critical moment, what role visibility and weather conditions played, and how air traffic control procedures could have prevented the collision (New York Post; People Magazine).

As the investigation continues, the city mourns the loss of life and the injuries sustained, while the aviation community examines the incident closely to prevent future tragedies. Families, passengers, and emergency personnel affected by the crash remain the focus of recovery efforts, and federal agencies are committed to determining the precise sequence of events that led to this disaster (ABC News).

The two pilots killed in the March 22, 2026, runway collision at LaGuardia Airport were Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer MacKenzie Gunther. Wikipedia +1

While authorities have confirmed that 41 people were taken to hospitals following the crash, a full public list of the names of all injured passengers has not been released. However, several individuals involved have been identified in official statements and media reports: NewsNation +1

Identified Personnel and Passengers

Sgt. Michael Orsillo: A Port Authority police officer who was in the fire truck (Truck 1). He sustained serious injuries, including broken bones, and remains hospitalized.
Officer Adrian Baez: A Port Authority police officer also in the fire truck. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital.
Salange Tromblé: A flight attendant who was found nearly 100 meters from the aircraft after her jump seat was ejected from the fuselage. She underwent surgery for her injuries.
Clément Lelièvre: A passenger on Flight 8646 who publicly credited the pilots’ reflexes for saving his life.
Jack Cabot: A 22-year-old student who was on the flight and confirmed he was not seriously injured. YouTube +5

Injury Overview

Total Hospitalized: 41 people (39 from the aircraft and 2 from the fire truck).
Current Status: As of March 23, 32 people have been released from care, while 9 remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Facebook +3

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