A major aviation accident occurred at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on the runway, forcing the airport to shut down for several hours.
The incident quickly became one of the most searched news topics worldwide, with keywords like laguardia plane crash, air canada crash, plane crash today, lga crash, and air canada 8646 trending on Google.
Authorities confirmed that the crash happened shortly after landing, causing injuries to passengers and emergency crew members.
What Happened at LaGuardia Airport?
According to early reports, an Air Canada Express regional jet (CRJ-900) landed safely but then struck an airport fire truck that was on the runway.
The collision happened during nighttime operations, when visibility and runway coordination are critical.
Officials said:
- The aircraft had just landed
- A fire truck was on the runway for emergency standby
- The plane collided with the vehicle during taxi/rollout
- The impact caused injuries and airport closure
The crash led to an immediate ground stop at LaGuardia Airport, and several flights were diverted to nearby airports.
Timeline of the LGA Plane Crash
- Plane lands at LaGuardia Airport
- Fire truck enters runway area
- Aircraft collides with emergency vehicle
- Emergency response activated
- Airport closed for safety investigation
- Flights delayed and canceled
- Airport reopened after inspection
The airport remained closed for nearly 14 hours before reopening.
Casualties and Injuries
Reports from law enforcement say:
- Pilot and co-pilot were killed (unconfirmed in some reports, investigation ongoing)
- Dozens of passengers injured
- Two fire truck crew members injured
- Several people taken to hospital
Emergency teams responded within minutes and transported injured passengers to nearby hospitals in New York City.
Why Was LaGuardia Airport Closed?
The airport shutdown was necessary because:
- Runway damage had to be inspected
- Debris had to be cleared
- Federal investigators needed access
- Safety checks required before reopening
Even after reopening, one runway may remain closed for several days.
This caused delays not only in New York but also across the United States.
Air Canada Flight Details
The aircraft involved is believed to be:
- Airline: Air Canada Express
- Aircraft: CRJ-900 regional jet
- Flight number reported: AC8646 (early reports)
- Route: Canada to New York
The plane was operated by a regional partner airline.
Investigators are now checking:
- Pilot communication
- Air traffic control instructions
- Runway clearance
- Vehicle movement on runway
NTSB Investigation Started
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has started an investigation.
They will examine:
- Flight data recorder
- Cockpit voice recorder
- Airport radar logs
- Runway camera footage
- Fire truck movement records
Experts say runway collisions are rare but extremely dangerous.
Video Shows Plane Hitting Fire Truck
Witness videos shared online show:
- Emergency lights on runway
- Plane rolling after landing
- Sudden impact
- Smoke and emergency response
Many people searched for:
- video of laguardia crash
- plane hits fire truck
- air canada crash video
- laguardia airport crash video
Officials warned people not to share fake videos while investigation continues.
Is LaGuardia Airport Open Now?
Latest update:
- Airport reopened Monday afternoon
- Flights slowly returning to normal
- Some delays expected
- One runway may stay closed
Travelers are advised to check flight status before going to airport.
How Rare Are Runway Collisions?
Runway collisions are uncommon but serious.
Possible causes include:
- Miscommunication with tower
- Vehicle on runway without clearance
- Poor visibility
- Technical error
- Human mistake
Experts say airports have strict rules, but accidents can still happen.
Impact on Flights Across USA
Because LaGuardia is one of the busiest airports in the U.S., the crash affected:
- New York flights
- Domestic flights
- Canada flights
- Connecting flights
Airlines had to cancel or delay hundreds of flights.
Latest Updates
- Investigation ongoing
- Airport open but limited
- Passenger injuries reported
- Federal agencies involved
- More details expected soon
This story is still developing.
