Officials reveal heartbreaking cause of plane crash in New York

Ema Alice: A late-night plane crash at LaGuardia Airport has resulted in the deaths of two crew members and caused major disruption to travel, officials have said.

The flight no 8646, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada, collided with an emergency vehicle shortly before midnight on Sunday. The incident happened at around 11.40pm as the plane was coming in to land, while some reports differ, suggesting the vehicle had landed and was taxiing. In a statement shared on X, LaGuardia Airport said the aircraft "struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle that was responding to a separate incident." The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft was a Bombardier CRJ-900 twin-jet. Both the pilot and first officer died in the crash, which authorities described as a catastrophic runway collision. Jazz Aviation, also referred to as Air Canada Express, said Flight 8646 was carrying 72 passengers along with four crew members. The airline added that this was based on an early passenger list and may be updated.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene within minutes. Two members of the Port Authority, a sergeant and an officer working in firefighting roles, are believed to have suffered broken limbs. Hospital officials said both remain in stable condition. According to ABC News, at least 13 people were taken to hospital after the crash, including 11 passengers and two first responders. Details on their injuries have not yet been fully confirmed.

Initial reports indicate the emergency vehicle had been cleared to cross Runway 4 at taxiway Delta.

Audio recordings suggest that soon after permission was granted, an air traffic controller repeatedly told the vehicle to stop in the moments before the crash.

The plane had taken off from Montréal–Trudeau International Airport shortly after 10.30pm ET and was approaching LaGuardia at a reduced speed when the collision occurred. Reports suggest the aircraft had already slowed significantly during its approach when it struck the vehicle.

A spokesperson for the New York City Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 11.38pm after reports that a plane had hit a vehicle on the runway. Passengers and airport staff described confusion in the aftermath, as flights were delayed or cancelled while emergency services remained on site overnight.

A full ground stop was put in place, and officials warned the airport would stay closed until at least 2pm on Monday, causing disruption at one of the city’s busiest airports.

The LaGuardia Airport post on X continued:

"This is a developing situation based on preliminary information. The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities and will provide additional updates as more details become available."

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