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A routine landing turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy as the LaGuardia Airport plane collision claimed the lives of two pilots and left dozens injured, shaking one of the nation’s busiest aviation hubs late Sunday night.

Deadly Runway Impact Unfolds

Officials confirmed that an arriving Air Canada Express flight collided with a fire-and-rescue vehicle on the runway at LaGuardia Airport.

The aircraft, traveling at approximately 100 mph, slammed into the vehicle during its landing rollout. The pilot and co-pilot — both Canadian — were killed instantly, according to law enforcement sources.

The flight, identified as Air Canada Flight 8646 and operated by Jazz Aviation, carried 72 passengers and four crew members.

Dozens Injured as Wreckage Scatters

In the aftermath of the LaGuardia Airport plane collision, 41 people were transported to hospitals, including 39 individuals from the aircraft and two rescue personnel from the truck.

Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia said that while 32 victims had been released by Monday morning, several remained hospitalized with serious injuries. Most suffered fractures and bruises, though at least one individual sustained a brain bleed.

In a harrowing moment, a flight attendant strapped into her seat fell through an opening in the damaged fuselage. Rescuers found her still secured in place and transported her to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Chaos in the Control Tower

Early findings suggest the crash was accidental, with no indication of foul play or terrorism. Investigators have recovered the aircraft’s black boxes, including the flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Air traffic control recordings reveal a possible communication breakdown: controllers initially cleared the fire-rescue vehicle to cross the runway before instructing it to stop.

Moments later, the collision occurred.

In audio exchanges, a pilot from a nearby Frontier flight remarked, “That wasn’t good to watch,” to which a controller responded, “I tried to reach out to my staff… we were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up.”

Multiple Emergencies Compounded Crisis

At the same time, controllers were handling a separate emergency involving a United Airlines flight that aborted takeoff due to an anti-ice warning and reported an odor in the cabin. Firefighters had been dispatched, adding complexity to an already strained situation.

The Air Canada CRJ 900, arriving from Montreal, had just touched down and was decelerating when it struck the vehicle. Images from the scene showed the aircraft’s nose severely damaged and lifted, with the tail resting on the tarmac.

Passengers described the aftermath as surreal, with one witness noting the plane appeared to be “missing the whole front nose.”

Airport Shutdown and Investigation Underway

Following the LaGuardia Airport plane collision, the airport was shut down, and the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop until at least 2 p.m. Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board has deployed a “go team” to lead the investigation. Officials say the probe will analyze air traffic recordings, radar data, and cockpit communications, alongside witness interviews.

Former NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt said investigators will focus on how the vehicle was allowed on the runway during landing and whether staffing issues in the control tower played a role.

The investigation is expected to take between 12 and 18 months.