BREAKING: Pilot and Co-Pilot Reported Killed in Air Canada Collision with Fire Truck
A routine landing turned into a nightmare when Flight 8646 struck an emergency vehicle, claiming the lives of its flight crew and leaving others injured.
Both the pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed when the aircraft collided with a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting truck on a runway at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) late Sunday night, according to multiple U.S. media outlets citing unnamed sources.
The Jazz Aviation-operated Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 arriving from Montreal, struck the emergency vehicle near Runway 4 shortly after 11:40 p.m. ET. The fire truck had been responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft.
Air Canada and Jazz Aviation confirmed the collision occurred but have not released details on casualties. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, FAA, and NTSB have acknowledged the runway incident and launched a full investigation, but have issued no official statements confirming any deaths.
Reports indicate at least four Port Authority officers and firefighters suffered serious injuries. Passengers and remaining crew were evacuated; initial accounts describe most passenger injuries as minor or none, though assessments are ongoing. One flight attendant was ejected during the impact but survived.
ABC news reported that13 people were hospitalized, including 11 passengers and two first responders, following the collision.
LaGuardia Airport remains closed with a complete FAA ground stop in place, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations across the Northeast.
The NTSB has dispatched a go-team to the scene.
This is a developing story. Official confirmation of fatalities is still pending from authorities.