LaGuardia Airport shut after Air Canada jet collides with fire truck

Cityscope, Crime Diary, North America

NORTH AMERICA (NPA) — March 23, 2026 — New York’s LaGuardia Airport was closed temporarily after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a Port Authority fire truck while landing late Sunday night, killing the pilot and co-pilot and injuring several others, according to officials.

The crash, which has intensified scrutiny amid ongoing concerns about aviation safety in the United States, occurred on the runway as the aircraft was touching down and the emergency vehicle was reportedly moving toward another plane.

Authorities confirmed that there were 72 passengers and four crew members onboard. Of these, 41 people were hospitalized with varying degrees of injury, while others were treated at the scene. 

The incident has prompted investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, as officials seek to determine how a rescue vehicle came into conflict with a landing aircraft at one of the nation’s busiest airports.