Quick summary
An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport on March 22, 2026 at 11:45 p.m. ET, killing both pilots and injuring 43 people. Flight attendant Solange Tremblay was ejected more than 100 meters from the aircraft but survived due to her reinforced jumpseat restraints. The airport fully closed until 2 p.m. March 23, and Runway 4/22 remains closed for NTSB investigation.
Travelers with LaGuardia bookings face cancellations and diversions to JFK or Newark through at least early April. The NTSB preliminary report is expected in late April — if runway incursion protocols are faulted, expect FAA-mandated ground movement training changes at LGA.
Air Canada Express Flight 8646 from Montreal struck a Port Authority fire truck during landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, killing pilots Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther and injuring dozens aboard the 76-seat regional jet. The collision crushed the aircraft’s nose section and hurled flight attendant Solange Tremblay more than 100 meters onto the runway — still strapped to her jumpseat.
She survived.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti attributed Tremblay’s survival to the four-point restraint jumpseat bolted to the cockpit wall, designed to withstand higher crash loads than passenger seats. “It’s a very robust seat,” Guzzetti told The Independent. “You need the flight attendant to help passengers get out of an airplane after a crash.” First responders found Tremblay outside the wreckage, conscious and still secured to the seat. She suffered multiple leg fractures requiring surgery but was otherwise unharmed.
The fire truck was responding to an unrelated aborted takeoff when the CRJ-900, traveling at 93–105 mph, struck it on Runway 4. The truck lacked a tracking device, and the runway warning system failed to alert the crew. Ground control audio captured repeated “stop” commands to the fire truck that went unheeded. “We were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up,” the ground controller said in the aftermath.
All 72 passengers and 4 crew members were accounted for. Of the 43 injured, 32 have been discharged, with 9 remaining in serious condition. An unaccompanied minor aboard the flight was reunited with family.
How the crash unfolded and what investigators found
The collision occurred at 11:45 p.m. ET on March 22 as Flight 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express brand, was completing its approach to Runway 4. The fire truck, stationed on the runway to respond to another aircraft’s mechanical issue, was struck by the jet’s nose gear and forward fuselage. The impact sheared off the cockpit section and scattered debris across 200 meters of pavement.
LaGuardia Airport closed fully immediately after the crash and reopened at 2 p.m. on March 23, but Runway 4/22 remains closed for debris examination and NTSB investigation. Hundreds of flights were canceled or diverted to JFK and Newark during the closure. Newark experienced a brief ground stop early March 23 due to unrelated smoke in the ATC tower, compounding delays across the New York metro area.
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed the agency is verifying who was conducting ground control duties that night. “We have conflicting information,” she said during a news conference. The FAA has launched a parallel review of Port Authority ground movement protocols under 14 CFR 139.329, which governs airport rescue and firefighting vehicle operations.
| Time (ET) | Event | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 11:45 p.m. Mar 22 | Flight 8646 strikes fire truck on Runway 4 | 2 pilots killed, 43 injured |
| 11:50 p.m. Mar 22 | LGA fully closed | All inbound flights diverted |
| 2:00 p.m. Mar 23 | LGA reopens (Runway 4/22 closed) | ~70% capacity, delays 4–12 hours |
| Late April 2026 | NTSB preliminary report expected | Potential FAA protocol changes |
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What the jumpseat design reveals about crash survivability
Tremblay’s survival echoes a 2013 Asiana Airlines incident at San Francisco International Airport, where three flight attendants were ejected from a Boeing 777 during a sea wall crash but survived with injuries. Three passengers died in that accident, which involved 291 people. Both cases highlight the engineering advantage of crew jumpseats over standard passenger seats.
Flight attendant jumpseats are bolted directly to structural bulkheads and use four-point harnesses — two shoulder straps and two lap belts — compared to the single lap belt in passenger seats. The seats are tested to withstand 16G forward crash loads, roughly double the 9G standard for passenger seats. This design prioritizes crew survival so attendants can assist evacuations, even in catastrophic failures.
Tremblay’s ejection occurred because the cockpit section separated from the fuselage on impact, but the jumpseat remained intact and attached to the bulkhead fragment. She was found 100+ meters from the main wreckage, still secured to the seat, which absorbed much of the deceleration force. Guzzetti called it a “total miracle” given the nose crush, but noted the seat performed exactly as designed under extreme conditions.
This marks LaGuardia’s first fatal accident in 34 years. The last comparable incident was USAir Flight 405 on March 22, 1992 — exactly 34 years prior — a Fokker F-28 that crashed on takeoff in icing conditions, killing 27 of 51 aboard. That crash led to FAA de-icing rule changes. No prior LGA accident involved a ground vehicle collision with an airport rescue and firefighting truck.
What to do if you have a LaGuardia booking
Runway 4/22 closure reduces LaGuardia to 70% capacity, with ripple delays affecting all carriers through at least early April.
- Check flight status 24 hours before departure using FlightAware or your airline’s app — cancellations are being issued with 12–18 hours’ notice as the airport adjusts schedules.
- Request rebooking to JFK or Newark if your LGA flight is canceled — Air Canada, Delta, and United have waived change fees for affected passengers through March 31.
- Monitor NTSB updates for runway reopening signals — the preliminary report expected in late April will clarify whether Runway 4/22 can reopen before the full investigation concludes.
- Consider alternate gateways for Montreal–NYC travel — Montreal departures often offer lower fares than US hubs due to favorable exchange rates and lower airport taxes, and JFK or Newark avoid LGA’s current capacity constraints entirely.
Watch: The NTSB preliminary report in late April will reveal whether runway incursion protocols or ATC staffing are faulted — if so, expect FAA-mandated ground movement training changes at LaGuardia and other Port Authority airports.
Questions? Answers.
Will Air Canada compensate passengers on Flight 8646?
Air Canada has issued rebooking waivers and is covering medical expenses for injured passengers. US DOT rules do not mandate cash compensation for accidents, but passengers may pursue claims through Air Canada’s insurance or legal channels. Canadian passengers may qualify for APPR standards of treatment (meals, hotels) if delays exceed 3 hours.
How long will Runway 4/22 remain closed?
The NTSB has not provided a reopening timeline. Debris examination and investigation typically take 2–4 weeks for runway incidents, but the severity of this crash may extend the closure. The preliminary report expected in late April will clarify whether structural repairs are needed beyond debris removal.
Are other New York airports affected?
JFK and Newark absorbed diverted LaGuardia traffic on March 23, causing delays of 1–3 hours. Newark experienced a brief ground stop due to unrelated ATC tower smoke but resumed normal operations by midday. Both airports are operating at full capacity as of March 24.
