Emergency personnel respond to an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 that is sitting on the runway after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, March 23, 2026. (AFP Photo)
March 23, 2026 08:14 AM GMT+03:00
An Air Canada Express aircraft struck a Port Authority vehicle on a runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York City late Sunday, halting flight operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop shortly after the incident and warned there was a high likelihood it would remain in place. By early Monday, all departing flights had either been delayed or canceled, based on airport data.
Emergency responders, including fire crews, were dispatched to the scene following reports of a collision involving a plane and a vehicle on runway four.
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Aircraft hit vehicle during landing roll
Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft, a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada, had arrived from Montreal and was slowing down after landing when it struck the vehicle crossing the runway. The aircraft sustained visible damage to its nose and cockpit area, according to unverified images circulating on social media.
Officials did not immediately confirm whether there were casualties, though the aircraft was believed to be carrying around 70 to 90 people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident, while local police confirmed that a collision had occurred.
The cause of the incident remained unclear, with early reporting pointing to a possible communication breakdown that allowed the vehicle onto the runway during the aircraft’s landing sequence.
Emergency personnel respond to an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 after colliding with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, March 23, 2026. (AFP Photo)
Authorities warn of cancellations
New York emergency management authorities warned travelers to expect cancellations, traffic congestion, and road closures near the airport, urging the public to use alternate routes.
The collision added to ongoing operational strain at LaGuardia. The airport had already been dealing with weather-related delays and longer security wait times linked to staffing shortages caused by a federal funding lapse.
Further delays and cancellations were expected to continue as investigations proceeded and runway operations gradually resumed.
March 23, 2026 09:28 AM GMT+03:00