Two pilots dead, 41 injured in New York runway crash

An Air Canada Express CRJ-900 sits on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, on March 23, 2026. A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot and causing "serious injuries" to others, authorities said Monday. Due to the crash late Sunday, US aviation authorities halted all flights at LaGuardia, and the port authority said the airport would stay shut until at least 2:00 pm (1800 GMT) "to allow for a thorough investigation.”

(Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) International News, Latest News March 23, 2026 Two pilots dead, 41 injured in New York runway crash NEW YORK, United States — At least two people, a pilot and a co-pilot, are dead after a plane collided with a fire truck at La Guardia airport in New York, Sunday night. Reports out of New York are that the airport has been shuttered until 2:00 pm Monday as operators assess the crash involving an Air Canada Express-operated CRJ aircraft and a Port Authority firetruck. ABC News reports that the aircraft touched down at La Guardia around 11:00 pm Sunday and appeared to be going around 30 miles per hour before colliding ‘nose first’ with the vehicle.

In Air traffic control recordings of the incident shared by ABC, a controller can be heard acknowledging the incident and urging the crew of the plane to remain in place while first responders arrive. There were over 70 passengers and four crew members on board the flight, which was coming in from Montreal, Canada. The FAA has issued a ground stop for the airport as ABC shared that the firetruck reportedly requested, and was given, permission to cross the runway shortly before the crash.

The emergency vehicle had been reportedly travelling across the runway in response to a request from a United Airlines flight after that pilot reported “an issue with odor”. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, has confirmed the death of the two pilots and said 41 people were taken to the hospital, including 39 people from the aircraft and two Port Authority emergency responders. At least 32 people have been released so far.