President Donald Trump described flying passenger jets a “dangerous business” and called the tragedy at New York’s LaGuardia airport, in which an Air Canada jet hit a firetruck that had been permitted to cross a runway, “terrible.”
The accident killed both pilots and left dozens of passengers injured, some critically.
It happened late Sunday when the Air Canada plane was landing, and a firetruck was on the runway.
Video that has been posted online suggests that the truck had been given permission to move into the landing path for the jet, but an investigation was under way already.
“Terrible. They made a mistake. It’s a dangerous business,” Trump told reporters as he boarded Air Force One. “That’s terrible.”
Authorities said both of the pilots were young and one victim was identified as Antoine Forest, of Coteau-du-Lac in Quebec. He was described on a LinkedIn profile as a first officer.
A spokesman for the FAA said both victims were “young men at the start of their careers.”
Video and images revealed that the front of the jet, where the pilots were, literally had been blown into pieces.
Reports said Air Canada Flight 8646 was being operated by Jazz Aviation for Air Canada.
A company announcement said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of two employees and are working to support family members and employees at this difficult time.”
The trip was from Montreal to LaGuardia.
Many jet passengers were injured, as were several people on the truck.
Audio from the event shows one control shouting, after giving the green light to the fire truck, “Stop, stop, stop, stop. truck 1, stop, stop, stop.”
Kathryn Garcia of the Port Authority said later Monday 41 people were transported to the hospital and 32 had been released.
Here’s CCTV footage capturing the exact moment Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900, collided with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport last night. pic.twitter.com/qxGMZzKXPD
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) March 23, 2026
NEW: New video footage captures the moment an Air Canada jet and a fire truck collided at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Here is what we know:
– The plane’s two pilots sadly died.
– 41 passengers and crew members were taken to the hospital.
– Audio from the air traffic tower… pic.twitter.com/KKw4xdmQXv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 23, 2026
Jack Cabot, a passenger on Air Canada flight AC8646, just told CNN what it was like inside when the CRJ-900 slammed into a fire truck on landing at LaGuardia. He said the impact was brutal…. everyone felt it, chaos erupted, and both pilots were killed instantly. He described… pic.twitter.com/CGOyPX1Cn7
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) March 23, 2026
ATC Audio after an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 slammed into a Port Authority fire truck leaving at least two pilots dead: Air Traffic Controller 1: “That wasn’t good to watch.”
Air Traffic Controller 2: “Yeah, I know. I was here. I tried to reach out… We were dealing with an… pic.twitter.com/80b4b7H4Nv
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 23, 2026
BREAKING NEW AUDIO
Reveals the firetruck that hit the Air Canada flight last night
..was told to STOP at least 4 times!!
Why didn’t he STOP? What’s going on here?! pic.twitter.com/GWDdjhiUlM
— Tablesalt (@Tablesalt13) March 23, 2026