Reaction poured in on Monday after an Air Canada passenger jet flying from Montreal to New York City crashed into a fire truck after landing at LaGuardia Airport, raising questions about the actions of the air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the fatal accident.
Recordings captured the moments before the crash, when one controller could be heard granting permission to the fire truck to cross the runway, before he urged the vehicle to stop, but it was too late to avoid the collision, which claimed the lives of both pilots on board.
What we know:
- The plane was operated by Air Canada Express carrier Jazz Aviation
- Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers injured
- Flights to and from Montreal to LaGuardia Airport are gradually resuming
- The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is sending investigators to New York City
Here is everything that happened on March 23:
A quiet night inside New York’s LaGuardia Airport after the deadly crash
NEW YORK - A somber evening at Queens, New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Monday night following the deadly, devastating chain of events that claimed the lives of two Air Canada Jazz pilots.
At this hour, multiple passengers remain in hospital and the wreckage of Air Canada flight 8646 remains strewn across LaGuardia’s runway number four.
United States National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy confirmed that Canadian Transportation Safety Board investigators will be part of the team, piecing together what went so tragically wrong.
Homendy also said it will take days for investigators to sift through the wreckage on the tarmac, photograph and identify items that need to be removed and taken back to NTSB headquarters in Washington DC.
Crews have removed the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorders, after cutting through the roof of the aircraft to access them. Both recorders have been taken Washington for further analysis.
At this hour limited flights are departing and arriving at LaGuardia.
Flight delays across the U.S. could mean that some key investigators are still making their way to the scene that is now part of a multi-national investigation.
Adrian Ghobrial, CTVNews.ca Journalist
Names of crew members confirmed
CTV News has confirmed the names of the four crew members on board Air Canada flight 8646 when it crashed at La Guardia Airport.
Antoine Forest was the captain of the flight and died in the collision.
His co-pilot, Mackenzie Gunther, also died, according to Noovo Info.
The two flight attendants were Solange Tremblay and François Grenier.
Joe Lofaro, CTVNewsMontreal.ca Journalist with files from Noovo Info
Video captures moment of collision
Video shows the moment Air Canada Flight 8646 crashed into a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
The fire truck can be seen approaching the runway before it is hit by the plane.
The truck then rolls over multiple times before both it and the plane disappear from view.
Michael Lee, CTVNews.ca lead morning producer
Passenger says they helped each other escape the plane
Flight attendant Solange Tremblay suffered multiple fractures to one leg and will need surgery after being thrown from the plane, daughter Sarah Lepine told Canadian news station TVA Nouvelles.
Her survival is “a total miracle,” Lepine said.
“I’m still trying to understand how all this happened, but she definitely has a guardian angel watching over her,” Lepine told the station.
Passenger Rebecca Liquori said the plane hit turbulence while descending, and she then felt it brake hard and heard a loud boom.
“Everybody just jolted out of their seats. People hit their heads. People were bleeding,” Liquori told News12 Long Island, a station where she once worked.
Liquori, who said she helped open the emergency exit door, recalled passengers helping each other slide down a wing to get out.
“I’m just happy to be alive,” said Liquori, who had gone to Montreal for a cousin’s baby shower. “I would have never pictured a one-hour flight that I’ve done countless times … ending like this.”
The Associated Press
Multiple parties, including Air Canada could face liability, aviation lawyer says
An aviation lawyer says multiple parties could be held responsible following the Air Canada incident at LaGuardia airport on Sunday.
“The FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) is a target. The Port Authority of New York is a target, and I’m sorry to say that the Air Canada airline and the jazz airline, which was operating under the Air Canada umbrella, will also be held responsible,” Arthur Rosenberg, a former pilot, told CTV News Channel Monday.
Rosenberg said international rules under the Montreal Convention could also apply, making airlines financially liable up to a set threshold, with the possibility of higher damages if fault is proven.He said any legal action would likely proceed in New York.
“The plane is here (in New York). The witnesses are here. The documents are here. Everything that’s tied to this case is here, not in Canada. So, this case belongs in New York.”
Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer
Ground controller’s workload at time of crash will need to be examined: aviation analyst
Aviation analyst Robert Kokonis said one of the biggest questions that need to be answered right now, is around the workload the ground controller was under.
It will need to be determined if he was well-rested, and if he was tasked with multiple ground movements, or departure movements, at the time of the crash, Kokonis said.
“A lot of big airports will use a separate ground controller from those that handle incoming and outbound flights, but we don’t know that for sure,” he told CTV News Channel.
“We need to understand that piece of it.”
He added that the movements of the aircraft and the firetruck involved in the crash, along with the audio from the communication towers will also need to be examined.
Elianna Lev, CTVNews.ca Journalist
A system under stress
About 40 passengers and crew members on the Air Canada jet and the two people in the fire truck were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries. Most were released by Monday morning, authorities said.
While investigators work to determine what led to the runway crash, aviation experts say the incident highlights the demanding environment controllers navigate every day -- managing planes landing and taking off, aircraft moving between gates and runways, and service vehicles ranging from emergency responders to maintenance trucks.
“In the best of times, air traffic controls and air traffic controllers are under a great deal of stress,” said Alan Diehl, a former federal crash investigator.
“These are people with very high cognitive levels. They’re carefully selected, extensively trained. And one of the problems is there is a shortage of 3,000 of them in this country right now.”
The Associated Press
NTSB: Recorders recovered, surveillance video collected
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters Monday that cockpit voice and flight data recorders have been recovered from the aircraft, and surveillance video has also been collected.
Homendy said about 25 specialists are on site, with additional investigators working from Washington, and that the probe is still in its early stages and the runway closure could last several days.
She said authorities are still verifying details, including how many people were in the control tower at the time.
Homendy said investigators will also interview the air traffic controller involved in an incident, adding it is typical for a controller to be removed from duty, and that the incident has been “pretty traumatic for that air traffic controller.”
She also said the NTSB will work with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which will provide technical advisers from the airline and aircraft manufacturer as part of the joint fact-finding effort.
Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer
‘I feel it in my bones’
Dennis Wyche, who spent 35 years in air traffic control says hearing the recorded conversation from air traffic control at LaGuardia Airport sent a chill down his spine.
“I feel it in my bones. I think every air traffic controller who hears a recording feels it in their bones,” he told CTV News Ottawa.
“They know that on any day, that could happen and your job is to prevent that from happening all the time.”
Plane crashes are rare, and Wyche says for a tragedy like this to happen, a series of mistakes must line up perfectly.
“The system is not just the air traffic controller. It’s not just the pilot. It’s everyone working together. It’s the mechanic, it’s the gate agent, it’s the people ensuring passengers getting on the plane are safe,” Wyche said.
“Everything has to work together and every small thing that happens could be an error… I don’t know that there are more incidents or accidents than there have been in the past. I know that they’re widely reported. I believe the system is still a very, very safe system.”
Austin Lee, CTVNewsOttawa.ca Journalist
Crash marks first fatal incident at LaGuardia in over 3 decades
The head of New York’s Port Authority says Sunday’s plane crash marks the first fatal incident at LaGuardia airport in more than 34 years.
Kathryn Garcia, the Port Authority’s executive director, was among a handful of U.S. officials to provide an update on the crash at the airport this afternoon.
She says one of the two people inside the fire truck involved in the collision is expected to be released from hospital this afternoon, and the other is set to stay overnight for observation.
The Canadian Press
‘Wrong place, wrong time’
CTV News Aviation Specialist Phyl Durdey says investigators examining the LaGuardia airport incident will closely scrutinize both the air traffic controller’s workload and broader system factors.
“They’ll take a look at how many hours the air traffic controller was working and to see if there’s any underlying issues, whether there’s stress management problems or there was something going on in his life,” Durdey told CTV News Channel Monday.
He added that while runway incursions are not uncommon, they are typically resolved before escalating.
“What happens is the pilots will go around before they get into a compromised position,” he said. “It’s like so rare that something like this would happen, that it was just everything came together, the wrong place, wrong time.”
Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer
U.S. Transportation Secretary says LaGuardia is well-staffed
United States Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy says LaGuardia Airport is open but operating at reduced capacity.
He also addressed rumours that only one person was in the control tower at the time of the incident, saying “that is inaccurate”.
Duffy said LaGuardia needs funding to upgrade its air traffic control system, but emphasized that the airport is well staffed. He told reporters that there are 33 certified controllers at LaGuardia Airport, with an additional seven in training.
Duffy described the two pilots killed in the crash as young men at the start of the their career, and said Transport Canada is sending a team to take part in the investigation into the incident.
Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer
Crash audio ‘speaks volumes’ for potential liability: personal injury lawyer
The audio from the crash can help point to who’s liable, and once that’s determined, how those injured will be compensated, Rajiv Haté, a personal injury lawyer with Kotak Law told CTVNews.ca on Monday.
“When an accident of this nature occurs, the typical assumption is that this was due to the negligence of someone,” Haté said. “It seems like there was human error here. Planes land all the time without crashing into fire trucks.”
The fact that the air traffic controller admits to making a mistake in the audio “speaks some volumes in terms of some potential liability” and there could be an injury claim made on behalf of those hurt in the accident, he added.
Haté said that typical injury claims go after all potential parties involved, which will be determined once the Federal Aviation Administration finishes its investigation.
The compensation depends on the damages, he added.
“Every person will have a different claim based on their damages,” Haté said, adding that it’s hard to speculate since it’s not clear how extensive everyone’s injuries are.
People involved in the crash should document their injuries, both physical and psychological, as well as the treatment they’re receiving, he said.
Elianna Lev, CTVNews.ca Journalist
‘The tower was quite occupied’
Aviation safety consultant Keith Mackey told CTV News Channel Monday that the fire truck was “given clearance” to cross the runway “further down,” due to an issue with a United aircraft.
“There was a lot going on at the time. We had a United aircraft that was having a smoke issue. There was a smoke odor in the cabin and they were trying to get somewhere they could open the door and clear it out,” Mackey said.
“The tower was quite occupied with that. They had the fire truck proceeding to the United flight to see what they could do when our Air Canada problem arose.”
Mackey says “we’ll soon find out” if a lack of air traffic controllers on duty was a factor in the crash, adding that a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report should reveal the answers in approximately a month.
Kayla Thompson, CTVNews.ca journalist
‘Overworked’ controllers raise risk of mistakes: expert
A pilot and aviation historian says a shortage of air traffic controllers may have contributed to the incident at LaGuardia Airport, while stressing such events remain rare.
“We really need to fill these air traffic controller positions so that these controllers not overworked,” Dan Bubb of the University of Nevada said in an interview with CTV News Channel Monday, adding overworked controllers can increase the risk of mistakes, particularly at busy airports.
Bubb said investigators will review multiple data sources to determine exactly what happened, but based on early information, the incident appears to be highly unusual.
“It sounds to me like it was just a real freak accident that happened, and these are very rare,” he said. “I’ve been a pilot for 15 years and I’ve never seen a plane collide with a ground vehicle on a runway, causing death.”
Tammy Ibrahimpoor, CTVNews.ca National Digital Producer
Pilots ‘saved our lives’: passenger
A passenger on the flight told The Canadian Press Monday, that the plane’s pilot and co-pilot likely saved his life and the lives of the others onboard by slamming on the emergency brakes when the aircraft touched down before it collided with a fire truck crossing the runway.
The two pilots of Flight AC8646 were killed in the collision, which also sent 41 people to hospital and injured others, including Clément Lelièvre, who was treated at the scene, according to the news service.
“Just as the plane touched down, the pilot braked extremely hard,” Lelièvre told The Canadian Press.
“I don’t know the circumstances, but I think he kind of saved our lives because he must have had incredible reflexes.”
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
‘I want to express our deepest sorrow’: Air Canada president
Air Canada’s president and CEO says it’s a “very sombre day” at the airline following the plane crash at LaGuardia Airport.
“First and most importantly, I want to express our deepest sorrow for everyone affected,” Michael Rousseau said in a video posted on the company’s X account Monday afternoon.
“Our efforts are focused on the needs of our passengers and crew members, along with their families and loved ones,” he said.
“We know that there are many questions, but at this early stage, we do not have all the answers, as the circumstances are still being assessed.”
Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau provides a video statement on the tragic accident involving Air Canada Express AC8646: pic.twitter.com/ZwFibpOkj2
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026
Rousseau said the airline is working with authorities “to confirm the number of injuries and if there are any other fatalities.”
He said Air Canada’s special assistance team is assisting customers and families, with a special hotline available at 1-800-961-7099.
The aircraft was operated by Jazz Aviation LP, which operates flights on behalf of Air Canada, according to Rousseau.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,” he said.
A specialized team is on its way to New York, Rousseau said, adding, “Anything we can do now, we’re doing.”
Daniel J. Rowe, CTVNewsMontreal.ca Journalist
‘Too early’ to draw speculation: aviation safety analyst
Aviation safety analyst and retired airline pilot John Cox, told CTV News Channel that National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators will be answering questions about the tragedy in the upcoming days, but for now it’s “too early” to draw speculation.
“They’re going to interview the air traffic controllers, they’re going to listen to the cock-pit voice recorder, and they’re going to interview the people in the fire truck when they’re able,” he said on Monday.
“All of this will help them assemble the timeline that led to this tragedy.”
Cox says the NTSB will also be investigating whether the air traffic controller was working on two different frequencies: local control/tower as well as ground control. They will also look into factors such as potential fatigue, the work schedules of the air traffic controllers and adequate staffing at the tower.
“All of these will be questions that are asked,” he said.
Cox re-instated the safety of air travel saying it’s the “safest form of transportation ever designed by humankind.”
“This is an exceedingly rare event, so we need to understand what all led up to it.”
Kayla Thompson, CTVNews.ca journalist
Wife of passenger describes evacuation
The wife of one of the passengers onboard the flight says her husband was one of the first people to exit the aircraft following the collision, helping others evacuate by sliding down the wing of the plane.
“He was able to get onto the wing, slide down the wing, and then get to safety,” Sarah Dorner, the wife of passenger Christopher Pal, told CTV News Channel on Monday.
“The passengers were a little reluctant to know what to do in these circumstances, and he smelled gas, so he was encouraging people to just slide down, go down the wing … he was there to catch them (and) help people get off the wing.”
Dorner said that according to Pal, passengers were able to evacuate the aircraft before it tilted back on its tail, which is where it came to rest eventually on Monday morning as an investigation into the crash got underway.
Dorner said Pal’s glasses were broken in the crash, but he didn’t sustain any injuries that needed medical attention. Dorner added that her husband, like herself, is a professor at Polytechnique Montreal, and doesn’t have a medical or emergency response background.
“He’s a computer scientist; he’s just quick to react, that’s mostly it, and is just somebody who wants to make sure others are fine as well,” she said.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
‘I messed up’: Read the transcript from the crash
Moments before an Air Canada Express plane collided with a firetruck on the runway of New York’s LaGuardia Airport, a traffic controller cleared the truck to cross the runway and then urgently ordered it to halt, a recording showed.
Below is a transcript of the exchange:
Driver: “Truck one and company, LaGuardia Tower. Requesting to cross four at Delta.”
Controller: “Truck one and company, cross four at Delta.”
Driver: “Truck one and company crossing four at Delta.”
Controller: “Frontier 4195, stop there please. (Pause.) Stop, stop, stop, truck one, stop, stop, stop. Stop, truck one, stop! Stop, truck one, stop.”
(Alarm goes off.)
“Jazz 646. Jazz 646, I see you collided with vehicle. (Inaudible) Hold position. I know he can’t move. Vehicles are responding to you now.“
After further dialogue.
Second controller: “Man, that wasn’t good to watch.”
First controller: “Yeah, I know. I was here. I tried to reach out to my staff. And we were dealing with an emergency earlier. I messed up.”
Second controller: “No man, you did the best you could.”
AFP
Passengers on flight speak out
Passengers on board the flight from Montreal to LaGuardia described the terrifying moments when their plane collided with a fire truck.
They say this was the last thing they expected as they made it to their destination safely.
“One of our friends was several rows back from us and we walked past him on our way out because he was trying to find his glasses and his nose was totally broken and bleeding on his face,” the passenger said.
“A lot of people smacked their head against the seat in front of them.“”We got checked out, we have a couple of bruises, but we’re just tired and want to go to bed," another passenger said.
WABC (as published by CNN)
Debris seen hanging from Air Canada plane
Photos obtained by CNN show the wreckage of the Air Canada flight, including debris hanging from part of the aircraft.
The fire truck that the plane crashed into can also be seen turned on its side and surrounded by rubble.
CNN
Retired U.S. FAA controller on working conditions
Staff shortages in air traffic control have persisted for decades, according to retired U.S. FAA controller Harvey Scolnick.
Scolnick told CTV News Channel Monday the issue is long-standing rather than a recent development. Scolnick noted that controllers are frequently required to work extended hours and overtime, with agencies often opting to stretch existing staff instead of hiring additional personnel.
“There would be a ground controller who is responsible for all movement areas on the airport including the taxiways with the exception of the runway – that would be the local controller.”
Scolnick said the audio moments before the plane crash suggests that positions were combined. “Very often positions get combined later in the evening especially right before the midnight shift or the overnight shift comes in,” he said.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
Air traffic controllers ‘under severe stress’
An important part of the investigation into the crash will be the state of the air traffic controllers in charge of safely giving instructions to aircraft and emergency vehicles at LaGuardia Airport, an aviation management expert says. “These controllers are working some long shifts,” John Gradek told CTV News Channel on Monday.
“I don’t know what the shifts were for the individual that was doing ground control or approach control, but that’s going to be one of the elements with both the NTSB in the U.S. and the TSB, who are now part of this investigation.”
Gradek noted that air traffic controllers in the U.S. are “under severe stress,” with shortages of around 3,000 controllers across the American aviation system.
Investigators will be looking at the amount of time the air traffic controllers who were on duty had been working, when there shifts began as well as when they were slated to end and if they had taken any breaks, Gradek said.
He noted that controllers are highly trained individuals who are required to have a “second-by-second attention span” when overseeing the complex movements of arriving and departing planes alongside vehicles on the ground.
“That’s something they’re going to be looking at very closely,” said Gradek.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
Canadian ambassador responds
Canadian Ambassador to the United States Mark Wiseman says he is deeply saddened by the collision at LaGuardia.
On the X platform, he said the embassy’s consular team is working to support those affected.
“My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives and with those injured.”
The Canadian Press
President Trump: ‘They made a mistake’
United States President Donald Trump called the fatal collision “terrible.”
Speaking on the tarmac of Palm Beach International Airport, Trump suggested the crash was due to human error.
“Terrible. They made a mistake. It’s a dangerous business. That’s terrible.”
The Canadian Press
Analyst surprised more weren’t injured
An aviation analyst says he’s surprised more passengers weren’t injured in the crash, as the aircraft would have made contact with the fire truck at a high speed.
“The aircraft probably was doing about 100 miles an hour at that point in time because it was not even halfway down the runway,” Phyl Durdey told CTV Your Morning on Monday.
“That’s why the significant impact with the truck shredded the (plane’s) nose.”
The two Air Canada pilots present on the flight were killed in the crash, and 41 people onboard were taken to local hospitals. Thirty-two people had been released by Monday morning.
Two Port Authority employees who were in the fire truck at the time of the collision also suffered injuries, but they were not believed to be life-threatening, officials said Monday.
“The aircraft would come to a halt really quickly,” said Durdey. “I’m surprised there’s not more injuries, but there will be some internal injuries or bumps and bruises from the passengers, but it’s very sad we lost the crew.”
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
‘A really bad tragedy’
The deadly crash was likely the result of a communications failure on the ground at LaGuardia Airport, which led to the fire truck being present on the runway where the aircraft was attempting to land, according to an aviation analyst.
“The aircraft would have been on one frequency – tower – and the emergency vehicle would have been on ground or apron,” Phyl Durdey told CTV Your Morning on Monday.
“So, one controller gave (the fire truck) permission to cross the runway, but the Air Canada aircraft was probably cleared to land, which means that they should not have been on the runway at the same time.”
Durdey said that by the time the pilots of the aircraft would have realized that the truck was in their landing path, it would have been too late to slow down or move around it to avoid the collision.
If there were two different air traffic controllers, one giving instructions to the aircraft and one directing the fire truck, they “should be talking” to each other in that type of situation to prevent these types of accidents, Durdey explained.
“This was a really bad tragedy, and it’s a big human error.”
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
PM Carney expresses condolences
Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed his condolences to the victims of the collision and their families.
He said the crash, which killed the pilot, co-pilot and injured dozens more people, was “deeply saddening.”
“Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues.”
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted.”
The Canadian Press
The collision involving an Air Canada Express aircraft last night in New York that claimed the lives of the pilot and co-pilot, and injured dozens more, is deeply saddening.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) March 23, 2026
Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts on the ground as the investigation…
Quebec premier, Montreal mayor react to plane crash
Quebec Premier François Legault and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada have both taken to social media to express their condolences in the wake of the tragedy.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic accident at LaGuardia Airport in New York involving an Air Canada flight from Montreal,” Legault wrote on X. “My thoughts are with the families of the deceased pilot and co-pilot, as well as with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
J’ai appris avec consternation le tragique accident survenu à l’aéroport de LaGuardia, à New York, impliquant un vol d’Air Canada en provenance de Montréal.
— François Legault (@francoislegault) March 23, 2026
Mes pensées accompagnent les proches du pilote et du copilote décédés, ainsi que toutes les personnes touchées par cet…
Martinez Ferrada also wrote on X, “My thoughts are with the families affected by the tragic incident involving an Air Canada flight from Montreal to LaGuardia Airport in New York.”
She added that “U.S. and Canadian authorities are monitoring the situation very closely.”
Mes pensées accompagnent les familles touchées par le tragique incident impliquant un avion d’Air Canada en provenance de Montréal à l’aéroport LaGuardia, à New York.
— Soraya Martinez Ferrada (@SorayaMartinezF) March 23, 2026
Les autorités américaines et canadiennes suivent la situation de très près.
Rachel Lau, CTV News Montreal digital reporter
Fellow pilots call crash a ‘profound tragedy’
Fellow pilots say the loss of two crew members on board Air Canada Flight 8646 is a “profound tragedy.”
“These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), in a statement.
The ALPA added that its investigation team is travelling to LaGuardia to assist the National Transportation Board.
Genevieve Beauchemin, CTV National News Quebec bureau chief
The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy. Thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time. pic.twitter.com/kaSvlzC8es
— Air Line Pilots Association (@ALPAPilots) March 23, 2026
N.Y. mayor thanks first responders for ‘swift actions’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared on X he has been briefed on the “tragic collision.”
Mamdani said the city is in close contact with federal, state and local partners.
“I am grateful to our first responders, whose swift actions saved lives,” he wrote.
“The Port Authority advises travellers to check with their airline for the latest flight information before coming to the airport,” he added.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
I have been briefed on the tragic collision that took place at LaGuardia Airport late last night.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 23, 2026
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, and the City is in close contact with federal, state, and local partners. I am grateful to our first…
TSB sending investigators
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced Monday that it is sending a team of investigators to New York City to support its U.S. counterpart, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in its investigation of the deadly crash.
The TSB notes on its website that it is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences.
“Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety,” it says. “It is not the function of the board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.”
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
U.S. transportation secretary says ‘prayers’ are with the families
U.S. TransportationSecretary Sean Duffy expressed his condolences on social media to families of passengers.
Duffy said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is sending a team to the site of the crash as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates.
“We will continue to work closely with the NTSB and share additional updates as soon as possible,” he wrote on X.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
Our prayers this morning are with the families impacted by the ground collision at LaGuardia. The @FAANews is deploying a team to the site to support the @NTSB’s investigation.
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 23, 2026
Here’s the information I can share are this time:
-Last night, an Air Canada Express CRJ-900… https://t.co/YtDsNIu2uS
Poilievre responds to deadly crash
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took to social media to respond to the deadly crash, saying he was “saddened to hear the awful news.”
“My thoughts are with the families of the two pilots who lost their lives, and hope for the many injured in hospital to make a full recovery,” he wrote.
Codi Wilson, CP24.com journalist
Saddened to hear of the awful news of the plane collision at LaGuardia Airport.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) March 23, 2026
My thoughts are with the families of the two pilots who lost their lives, and hope for the many injured in hospital to make a full recovery.
Controllers not impacted by shutdown
In the moments before the crash, a LaGuardia air traffic controller can be heard on a radio transmission first giving clearance to the fire truck to cross the runway, then trying to stop it, but it was too late to avoid the collision.
U.S. air traffic controllers are not impacted by the partial government shutdown that has caused long delays at airport security checkpoints in recent days, but they have been affected by past shutdowns, according to The Associated Press.
The latest example was in the fall, when a previous government shutdown led to flight reductions across 40 high volume airports in November, as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said air traffic controllers were exhibiting signs of strain after weeks without pay.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
Air Canada expresses condolences
Air Canada is expressing its condolences to the families of the two pilots killed in the crash.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,” the airline said.
It added, “Air Canada cannot confirm the exact number of injuries or if there are other fatalities at this time.”
The company notes that it plans to issue regular updates as information becomes known as “Air Canada and Jazz Aviation teams are preparing to make their way to the site.”
It states that Air Canada and Jazz Aviation are co-operating with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board in the U.S.
The airline confirmed that the plane had 72 passengers and four crew members aboard, though it added, “This is subject to confirmation.”
Family and friends searching for information about passengers on Air Canada Express flight AC8646 are asked to call Air Canada at 1-800-961-7099.
Rachel Lau, CTV News Montreal digital reporter
Pearson airport says ‘thoughts’ with those affected
In a post on social media, Toronto Pearson International Airport offered condolences to those impacted by the fatal crash.
“Our thoughts are with all the passengers, crew and families impacted by the tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport,” the airport wrote.
“For those travelling between Toronto Pearson and LaGuardia (LGA) please check directly with your airline for the latest updates as the airport is currently closed.”
Codi Wilson, CP24.com journalist
Our thoughts are with all the passengers, crew and families impacted by the tragic incident at LaGuardia Airport.
— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) March 23, 2026
For those travelling between Toronto Pearson and LaGuardia (LGA) please check directly with your airline for the latest updates as the airport is currently closed. https://t.co/UftYHk2iDr
Helpline set up for families of passengers
In a post to X, Air Canada announced it has set up a phone line for friends and family of passengers of the plane that crashed.
The Air Canada Express flight, referred to as AC8646, held 72 passengers and four crew.
Air Canada said families and friends can call 1-800-961-7099 for assistance.
Dorcas Marfo, CTVNews.ca journalist
We have set up a phone line for friends and family of passengers on Air Canada Express flight #AC8646 on Mar. 22,2026; they can call 1-800-961-7099 for assistance.
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026
Canada in touch with authorities: Anand
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Canada’s consular officials are in contact with local authorities and are providing assistance to passengers.
She added that an additional consular team is en route to New York.
“I reiterate my profound and utter sadness at the loss of two pilots during this tragic accident,” Anand said in a post on X.
“I am thinking of their families and friends, as well as the passengers on board, including those who were injured. I am also thinking about the broader aviation community who are feeling this loss deeply.”
Michael Lee, CTVNews.ca lead morning producer
I reiterate my profound and utter sadness at the loss of two pilots during this tragic accident. I am thinking of their families and friends, as well as the passengers on board, including those who were injured. I am also thinking about the broader aviation community who are… https://t.co/VkXDMDpZLF
— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) March 23, 2026
‘Methodical’ investigation underway
John Cox, an aviation analyst and former commercial airplane pilot, told CP24 on Monday that investigators will look at the air traffic control tapes, the flight data recorder, and the cockpit voice recorder as part of the probe into what led to the crash.
“The investigators are going to look at everything and that is the important part. ... They are going to interview the fire truck driver and any of the other crew members that were in the truck as soon as they are able,” he said.
“It is a very methodical process to understand how this collision occurred.”
Codi Wilson, CP24.com journalist
Montreal airport flights cancelled
All flights to and from Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to LaGuardia Airport have been cancelled until 2 p.m. EDT.
Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the airport authority for the Greater Montréal area, confirms that the airport is otherwise fully operational.
Rachel Lau, CTV News Montreal digital reporter
Path of flight from Montreal to New York
FlightAware, a U.S. website that offers real-time flight tracking, shows the path of flight Air Canada 8646 from Montreal to New York on Sunday night.
Codi Wilson, CP24.com journalist
‘Everyone was screaming’
One of the flight’s passengers told CNN after the incident that he felt the plane “immediately hit something” after landing on the runway.
“And it was just chaos in there,” said Jack Cabot. “About five seconds later, we had come to a stop, but in that short period, I mean, everyone was hunkered down and everyone was screaming.”
He said that passengers were not given any directions from the cockpit, since it had largely been destroyed in the crash.
“Somebody said, ‘Let’s get to the emergency exit and get the door and let’s all jump out,’ and that’s exactly what we did,” he said.
Jordan Fleguel, CTVNews.ca journalist
Flight attendant ejected: report
The New York Post reported that a female flight attendant survived after being ejected through the front of the aircraft while still in her seat during the crash.
Sources told the newspaper that police from the Port Authority helped rescue her, and she was brought to hospital.
Michael Lee, CTVNews.ca lead morning producer
26 flights cancelled at Toronto’s Pearson airport so far
Jake Keating, a spokesperson for Toronto Pearson International Airport, told CP24 that 26 flights have already been cancelled as a result of the airport closure in New York.
“Obviously the one thing we are monitoring is the impacts from the La Guardia closure,” he said.
“Even though it did not involve an aircraft that left Toronto or involve the Toronto airport at all, it does still have an impact here,” he said.
On average, he said, there are about 45 flights between Pearson and La Guardia each day.
Codi Wilson, CP24.com journalist
Transport minister responds
On social media, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon wrote that Canada is working closely with U.S. authorities as they investigate.
“Aviation safety remains our highest priority,” he said.
LaGuardia was 19th busiest in 2024 out of more than 500 U.S. airports, with more than 16.7 million passengers boarding there, according to a 2025 U.S. Federal Aviation Administration database.
The Canadian Press
I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada Express aircraft arriving from Montréal.
— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) March 23, 2026
My thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and colleagues of those who lost their lives, as well as all those who were injured.
Canada is…
Airport closed until at least 2 p.m. ET
Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the airport was to remain closed until at least 2 p.m. Monday to facilitate the investigation, which was being led by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
The Canadian Press
What kind of plane was it?
The plane was identified as a Bombardier CRJ900. These are regional jets built for short- to medium-haul routes and meant to handle between 50 and 100 passengers.
It’s a narrow-body aircraft with two engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage and a tail shaped like the letter T, giving it a distinctive profile.
The Canadian Press
2 pilots confirmed dead
Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said all who were on the plane -- 72 passengers and four crew -- have been accounted for.“
Sadly, the two pilots are confirmed deceased and notifications are being made by Air Canada’s care team at this time,” Garcia told a news conference in the pre-dawn hours of Monday. She added both were based out of Canada.
The Canadian Press
Fire truck responding to odour issue
The disaster began as the plane touched down after its journey from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, the major airport serving Montreal.
The firefighting truck was responding to a separate incident when it was hit. Garcia confirmed it was a United Airlines flight that had an issue with odour on takeoff.
Two Port Authority employees travelling in the fire truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, said Garcia.
Photos from the scene show the jetliner on the ground, surrounded by red rescue vehicles, in the glare of portable floodlights. Its crumpled nose is in the air pointed toward the sky, the cockpit peeled back all the way back to the first passenger window, exposing a shredded tangle of wires and flight controls.
The Canadian Press
‘That wasn’t good to watch’
A review of publicly available air traffic control recordings by The Canadian Press suggests the odour made some flight attendants feel ill. LaGuardia controllers were also mobilizing a stair truck in case the plane needed to let people off.
One air traffic control could be heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then trying to stop it.
“Stop, Truck 1. Stop,” the transmission says. The controller can then be heard frantically diverting incoming aircraft from landing.
Afterward, disaster struck, one staffer sought to console another.
“That wasn’t good to watch,” says one.
“I know. I tried to reach out,” says the second person.
“We were dealing with an emergency earlier.”
“You did the best you could,” says the first.
The Canadian Press
