AC8646 (CR9 / C-GNJZ) collides with vehicle at LGA
Mar 23, 2026 | 2:21 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2026
Location: Gate D49 Pearson Terminal 1
Posts: 28
For those unaware, NY Post has video and reports;
- two pilots dead and
- two Port Authority who work on the Port Authority Police Department’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit, which is staffed by police to respond to aircraft emergencies — suffered broken bones and are expected to survive,
- A female flight attendant was ejected through the front of the aircraft while still in her seat during the crash — and survived.
Fortunately the fuel tanks were not punctured and a fire was avoided. It would have been. devastating otherwise. The one remaining AC FA, will have had to deal with this alone. The images indicate no exit chutes were deployed, with wing exits used. This is going to be one awful event to process for the surviving FAs and passengers. 76 passengers, 4 crew.
- two pilots dead and
- two Port Authority who work on the Port Authority Police Department’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter Unit, which is staffed by police to respond to aircraft emergencies — suffered broken bones and are expected to survive,
- A female flight attendant was ejected through the front of the aircraft while still in her seat during the crash — and survived.
Fortunately the fuel tanks were not punctured and a fire was avoided. It would have been. devastating otherwise. The one remaining AC FA, will have had to deal with this alone. The images indicate no exit chutes were deployed, with wing exits used. This is going to be one awful event to process for the surviving FAs and passengers. 76 passengers, 4 crew.
Mar 23, 2026 | 2:30 am
#47
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 252
Sad situation. Interesting that the fire truck was less damaged than the plane. I guess they are beasts as they look. I pity the controller and his family, looks like he worked both ground and incoming traffic and misspoke giving clearance for fire 1 to pass runway 4.
Mar 23, 2026 | 2:33 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2026
Location: Gate D49 Pearson Terminal 1
Posts: 28
Sad situation. Interesting that the fire truck was less damaged than the plane. I guess they are beasts as they look. I pity the controller and his family, looks like he worked both ground and incoming traffic and misspoke giving clearance for fire 1 to pass runway 4.
Mar 23, 2026 | 2:59 am
#49
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 6,114
What’s the NTSB going to say? It looks like there is only one layer of safety in this with just one controller?
Would the Jazz pilots know or realize that the fire truck was cleared to cross the runway as they were landing? Would the Truck know that an aircraft was cleared to land? I’m devastated that this has happened. The controller must be heartbroken as well as the families of the pilots.
Would the Jazz pilots know or realize that the fire truck was cleared to cross the runway as they were landing? Would the Truck know that an aircraft was cleared to land? I’m devastated that this has happened. The controller must be heartbroken as well as the families of the pilots.
Mar 23, 2026 | 3:00 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2026
Location: Gate D49 Pearson Terminal 1
Posts: 28
What’s the NTSB going to say? It looks like there is only one layer of safety in this with just one controller?
Would the Jazz pilots know or realize that the fire truck was cleared to cross the runway as they were landing? Would the Truck know that an aircraft was cleared to land? I’m devastated that this has happened. The controller must be heartbroken as well as the families of the pilots.
Would the Jazz pilots know or realize that the fire truck was cleared to cross the runway as they were landing? Would the Truck know that an aircraft was cleared to land? I’m devastated that this has happened. The controller must be heartbroken as well as the families of the pilots.
Mar 23, 2026 | 4:14 am
#53
Join Date: Dec 2020
Programs: QF, CoUniHound Refugee
Posts: 520
Air Canada Webpage for Incident Launched
Just thought I’d share that Air Canada has updated their site and has a webpage with information related to the incident:
https://www.aircanada.com/incident/page/home.html#
https://www.aircanada.com/incident/page/home.html#
Mar 23, 2026 | 4:27 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 199
So I think Jazz had to be down or very close to landing when the initial clearance was given.
I’ll also note that the clearance was given and read back as “Cross 4” and not “Cross Runway 0-4” which makes it even harder for Jazz (or others) to perk up on the conflict.
You have to feel terrible for everyone involved and touched by this accident. We’ll need the full investigation but it definitely feels like one of those accidents that will expose a lot of vulnerabilities in the ATC system that people have been talking about for years without gaining traction.
Mar 23, 2026 | 4:58 am
#55
Join Date: May 2015
Location: EXT, sometimes LON/SFO/NYC/YQT
Programs: Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 1,085
I genuinely did shed tears this morn after seeing this thread and checking the news. This is heartbreaking.
There is little a random stranger on the internet can do to help anyone heal, but I hope this community's compassion comes through.
Rest in peace.
There is little a random stranger on the internet can do to help anyone heal, but I hope this community's compassion comes through.
Rest in peace.
Mar 23, 2026 | 5:00 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Titanium (LTG), LH Senator, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,419
Main thoughts to the pilots and crew, and of course passengers. Yet another example of reasons to be aware at all times on a moving plane and listen to flight crew.
As an aside - bear in mind I have no knowledge in this area - is it normal/within regulations to have only one person controlling in this situation? From a completely lay person's point of view this feels like it should be manned by more than one person at a time.
I work despatching emergency vehicles and we have 2 despatchers and a controller overseeing at ALL times on the one channel - and air traffic has FAR more risk involved on a large scale.
(I'm also in the UK so maybe there are different regulations in the US)
Mar 23, 2026 | 5:21 am
#57
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: YOW
Programs: AC P(easant)25K
Posts: 1,183
This is really hit too close to home.
I was literally on this exact fin not that long ago...
This is just awful...
It seems like the plane was landed on Runway 4, struck the vehicle at exit E while decelerating toward exit F or Q, around 30-50 kts at impact?
This one hits too close too home, I have come to known a couple Jazz crew personally, seeing those pictures and learning the news is very unsettling. I honestly don't know how I feel right now.
I was literally on this exact fin not that long ago...
Was checking travel advisory for AC tomorrow and they claim LGA is closed due to political activity?! 
correct, looks like they were cleared to land, then ATC cleared the firetruck to cross active runway while perhaps forgetting the AC was coming in hot. But stop notice came too late…
correct, looks like they were cleared to land, then ATC cleared the firetruck to cross active runway while perhaps forgetting the AC was coming in hot. But stop notice came too late…
It seems like the plane was landed on Runway 4, struck the vehicle at exit E while decelerating toward exit F or Q, around 30-50 kts at impact?
This one hits too close too home, I have come to known a couple Jazz crew personally, seeing those pictures and learning the news is very unsettling. I honestly don't know how I feel right now.
Last edited by Leyland1989; Mar 23, 2026 at 5:45 am
Mar 23, 2026 | 5:35 am
#59
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hotlanta.
Programs: DL (duh), AA 1MM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 8,452
A lot of this difference is politics and not safety. As you said up front, this is probably best left to professionals and not for discussion on an enthusiasts forum.
Mar 23, 2026 | 6:06 am
#60
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,700
Given the increasing number of ATC close calls over the last few years (that seem to be increasing recently based on my subjective viewing of ATC incidents) on top of the staffing situation, not to mention the stress caused by US Budget issues, perhaps the saddest thing about this was how utterly predictable it was. Despite the horrific loss of life here, it could have been a lot worse. And the conditions for more incidents are still ever-present.