New CCTV Footage Reveals How Air Canada Plane Crashed Into Fire Truck at LGA
Bloomberg Television / YouTube
Late Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, a regional Air Canada Express plane collided with a Port Authority fire truck while landing, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of others. New CCTV and video footage shared by witnesses and authorities has begun to show how the events unfolded on the runway, raising questions about communication and timing between the aircraft and ground crews. The collision triggered a massive emergency response and forced flight operations to halt early Monday, affecting hundreds of passengers at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The Crash and What Footage Shows
The aircraft involved was Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a Bombardier CRJ‑900 jet operated by Jazz Aviation LP under the Air Canada Express brand. The flight had departed from Montreal Trudeau International Airport and was preparing to land at LaGuardia just before midnight. According to preliminary footage released by law enforcement and captured by airport CCTV, the jet was on its final descent when a fire truck moved onto the runway. The truck appeared to be responding to another aircraft’s report of an odor in the cabin.
In the clips, the lead fire truck — a 100‑series emergency vehicle — is seen crossing the runway directly in the jet’s path. Other fire trucks that had been following remain stationary on a taxiway, leading to confusion about why only the lead vehicle was in motion. The plane struck the truck near its midsection, shearing off parts of the aircraft nose and causing a fireball upon impact. The force of the crash sent debris across the runway, and smoke was seen rising as crews worked to extinguish flames.
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Casualties and Emergency Response
Officials confirmed both pilots — the captain and first officer — died in the collision. Forty‑one passengers and crew members were taken to nearby hospitals, with at least some suffering serious injuries, according to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. Two firefighters from the lead vehicle were also hospitalized but were in stable condition early Monday.
Emergency crews, including paramedics, police, and additional fire units, responded within minutes. They treated the wounded at the scene before transporting them for further care. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop and temporarily closed LaGuardia, causing widespread flight cancellations and travel delays as the runway was cleared and inspected.
What Officials Are Investigating
Authorities have said that the exact cause of the crash is not yet known. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), FAA, and Port Authority are reviewing CCTV footage, radio communications, and flight data. Early speculation includes possible miscommunication between the aircraft and emergency crews, or a misunderstanding of runway crossing clearances. However, officials have urged the public to wait for verified findings before drawing conclusions. The investigation is expected to take several weeks as experts piece together the final moments before impact.
