Air Canada Express jet collides with fire truck at LaGuardia, critically injuring two officers

Quick summary

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport at approximately 23:40 local time on March 22, 2026, critically injuring at least two Port Authority officers and forcing a full ground stop. The FAA halted all operations until 0530 GMT March 23 with a high probability of extension to 1800 GMT, diverting all arriving flights to JFK and Newark and stranding departures on the ground.

The aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation on a Montreal–New York route, struck the vehicle at approximately 24 mph during its landing roll, damaging the nose and tilting the fuselage. Travelers with bookings through LGA on March 23–24 face immediate cancellations or diversions — Air Canada, Delta, and American Airlines connections are failing across the network.

LaGuardia Airport remains closed to all traffic as of 0530 GMT Monday, March 23, 2026, after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck during landing. The impact occurred on Runway 4 in rainy conditions, critically injuring at least two Port Authority officers and leaving the aircraft nose damaged and tilted on the runway.

The FAA issued a ground stop effective immediately, with operations suspended until at least 0530 GMT — and a separate notice indicates the closure may extend to 1800 GMT. All arriving flights are being diverted to JFK or Newark. Departures are grounded indefinitely.

If you have a flight to or from LaGuardia today or tomorrow, assume it will not operate as scheduled. Air Canada Express, Delta, and American Airlines — the three carriers that dominate LGA — are scrambling to rebook thousands of passengers. Connections across the eastern seaboard are collapsing as the ripple effect spreads.

What happened on Runway 4

The aircraft involved was an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, inbound from Montreal. At approximately 23:40 local time on March 22, the jet collided with a fire truck during its landing roll on Runway 4. The impact speed was approximately 24 mph, according to initial reports from the scene.

The nose of the aircraft sustained visible damage, and the fuselage tilted forward after the collision. At least two Port Authority officers aboard the fire truck were critically injured. Early reports citing 100+ injuries or possible fatalities have not been confirmed by official sources — the FAA and Port Authority have released no casualty figures beyond the two critical injuries.

Weather at the time was rainy with low cloud cover. The FAA confirmed the ground stop was issued due to an aircraft emergency, not weather alone. No official statement has been released by Air Canada as of 0600 GMT March 23.

How this compares to past LGA incidents

In January 2019, an American Airlines Boeing 737 collided with an airport vehicle on a LaGuardia taxiway during snow operations. That incident injured no one but closed runways for 90 minutes and diverted more than 20 flights. The FAA investigation found the vehicle had entered the taxiway without clearance, leading to enhanced ground operations training across the airport.

The current incident follows a similar pattern — a low-speed collision between an aircraft and a ground vehicle — but the severity is higher. The 2019 event resumed operations the same day. This one has already exceeded six hours with no clear timeline for reopening.

The FAA certifies LaGuardia under Part 139, which mandates annual audits for runway safety and incident response. Transport Canada oversees Air Canada Express through Jazz Aviation’s Air Operator Certificate, with biennial audits. This collision will trigger a joint NTSB and FAA investigation under Part 139.320, which governs ground vehicle controls on active runways.

What to do if your flight is affected

LaGuardia is closed with no confirmed reopening time — treat any booking through LGA on March 23–24 as canceled until proven otherwise.

• Air Canada passengers: Call 1-888-247-2262 or use the Manage Booking tool at aircanada.com. Flexible rebooking is in effect. Request rerouting through JFK or Newark, or ask for a full refund if your trip is no longer viable.
• Delta and American passengers: Use airline apps or websites for self-serve rebooking. Delta operates 60% of LGA traffic and has the most alternate capacity at JFK. American’s secondary hub status means fewer options — expect longer wait times.
• Connecting passengers: If your itinerary involves a connection through LGA, contact your ticketing airline immediately. Missed connections due to airport closures qualify for rebooking without fees under US DOT rules.
• Monitor the FAA: The NOTAM system will publish Runway 4 status updates. If the ground stop lifts before 1800 GMT, partial operations may resume — but expect delays through March 24 as the backlog clears.

Watch: The FAA’s next NOTAM release on Runway 4 status. If lifted before 1800 GMT, it signals partial operations resuming for Delta and American hubs, enabling faster rebookings. An extension means full-day closure and mass diversions continuing into March 24.

Questions? Answers.