Air Canada plane collides with vehicle at LaGuardia airport, traffic disrupted

Monday 23 March 2026 - 07:15

An aircraft operated by Air Canada was involved in a collision with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York City late Sunday night, causing major disruptions to air traffic and raising concerns over airport safety procedures.

According to local emergency services, the incident occurred at approximately 11:38 p.m. local time on March 22. Firefighters responded swiftly after receiving reports of a collision between an aircraft and a vehicle on one of the airport’s runways. Authorities have not yet released an official casualty report, although early media coverage suggests that several individuals, including the pilot and co-pilot, may have been injured.

The flight, identified as AC8646, was operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada. The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900, had departed from Montreal and was carrying 72 passengers along with four crew members at the time of the incident.

Images circulating on social media and in news outlets show the aircraft tilted backward, with its nose significantly damaged and emergency crews surrounding the scene. The extent of the damage suggests a forceful impact, though investigations are still ongoing to determine the exact cause.

Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a temporary closure of LaGuardia Airport due to what it described as an “emergency situation.” Officials warned that disruptions could continue, and by Monday morning, many departing flights had been delayed or canceled.

The airport had already been experiencing operational difficulties due to adverse weather conditions. In addition, staffing shortages linked to recent federal funding issues had contributed to longer security wait times in recent days, further complicating travel for passengers.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, and more details are expected to emerge as officials assess both the technical and operational factors behind the collision.