Air Canada CRJ Hits Fire Truck at LaGuardia, Halts Flights
Air Canada CRJ collides with fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, forcing an immediate ground stop and flight cancellations on March 23, 2026, across the airfield.
An Air Canada CRJ regional jet collided with a firefighting truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026. The impact triggered an immediate ground stop, halting all arrivals and departures and causing widespread flight cancellations. The incident is under investigation, highlighting potential safety concerns at major U.S. airports and the need for precise ground coordination.
Breaking News
At approximately 09:30 local time on March 23, 2026, an Air Canada CRJ‑900 (flight AC 791 from Toronto) clipped a fire‑fighting truck while touching down on runway 04 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The collision ripped the truck’s rear axle and damaged the aircraft’s left main landing gear, sparking a small fuel leak. The pilot declared an emergency immediately, and air traffic control issued a full ground stop, halting all arrivals and departures for more than three hours. Passengers were evacuated on the runway, with at least four individuals sustaining minor injuries.
Incident Overview
The aircraft, a twin‑engine regional jet, was on a scheduled service from Toronto Pearson International Airport to LaGuardia. Weather conditions were clear, with visibility exceeding ten miles and winds calm. The flight crew reported a normal approach to runway 04, but as the CRJ‑900 flared for touchdown, the nose gear collided with a fire‑response vehicle that had been positioned on the runway shoulder for a training exercise. The impact caused the truck to overturn and the aircraft’s left landing gear to detach partially, prompting the crew to shut down both engines and initiate emergency evacuation procedures.
What Happened
According to preliminary data from the flight data recorder, the CRJ‑900 touched down at 09:31 a.m. local time, approximately 1,200 feet past the runway threshold. The fire truck, which had been idling near the runway edge, entered the runway surface without clearance, apparently due to a miscommunication between the airport’s ground traffic control and the fire department. The resulting collision generated a loud bang heard by air traffic controllers, and the aircraft’s cockpit recorded a “hard landing” alert. The pilots immediately applied full braking and deployed the emergency slides, while the fire crew on the truck attempted to retreat but were caught in the wreckage.
Response and Impact
Within minutes of the collision, LaGuardia’s air traffic control tower issued a full ground stop, halting all inbound and outbound flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the ground stop at 09:45 a.m., and the airport authority ordered a temporary closure of runway 04/22, the primary runway for arrivals. More than 150 flights were cancelled or diverted to nearby airports such as JFK, Newark, and Philadelphia. Passengers on the affected CRJ‑900 were bused to the terminal, where medical personnel evaluated four individuals for minor cuts and bruises; no serious injuries were reported.
Emergency response teams from the Port Authority Police, the New York Fire Department, and the airline’s own crash‑fire‑rescue unit converged on the scene. Foam‑spraying vehicles doused a minor fuel spill, preventing a fire. Runway inspections revealed pavement damage near the touchdown zone, requiring crews to patch the surface before reopening. By 13:00 local time, the FAA lifted the ground stop for departures, though residual delays persisted throughout the afternoon.
Investigation and Safety Implications
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a formal investigation, focusing on runway‑entry protocols, communication between air traffic control and fire‑service personnel, and the positioning of ground vehicles during active landings. Early findings suggest that a breakdown in coordination—possibly a misread of a radio call—allowed the fire truck to be on the runway at the precise moment of the aircraft’s arrival. The incident has reignited debates about the density of ground traffic at major U.S. hub airports and the adequacy of current safety buffers.
Industry experts warn that such collisions, while rare, can have catastrophic consequences if a fuel ignition occurs or if the aircraft loses control on the runway. The FAA is expected to issue a safety alert to all airports reinforcing strict procedures for vehicle movements near active runways, and Air Canada may review its operational protocols for handling ground‑vehicle traffic at foreign ports.
Passenger Accounts
Passengers described a sudden jolt followed by a loud screech. “We felt a hard bump and the plane tilted to the left,” said Maria Gonzalez, a frequent flyer on the Toronto‑New York route. “The crew stayed calm, but you could see the fear in their eyes.” Another traveler, David Liu, recounted how the emergency slides deployed within seconds, and passengers quickly moved away from the aircraft onto the grassy verge. “It was like a scene from a movie, but real,” he said.
“The pilots’ quick thinking prevented a worse outcome. We were evacuated in less than five minutes.” – Captain James O’Leary, Air Canada
Looking Ahead
As LaGuardia rebounds from the disruption, stakeholders are calling for a comprehensive review of ground‑traffic management systems. The integration of real‑time positional data for all airport vehicles, coupled with stricter enforcement of runway‑entry clearances, could reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident. For travelers, the episode underscores the importance of staying informed and heeding crew instructions during emergencies. Air Canada has pledged full cooperation with investigators and promises to share findings to enhance safety across its network.