Two pilots were killed late Sunday when Air Canada Express Flight 8646, a Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, collided with a Port Authority aircraft rescue and firefighting truck on Runway 4 at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. ET as the plane, which had originated from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members aboard, was taxiing after landing at speeds of about 24 to 30 mph.

The fire truck, manned by Port Authority police officers, had been cleared to cross the runway at taxiway D while responding to a separate incident elsewhere at the airport. Air traffic control audio captured controllers urgently warning the vehicle with commands such as "stop, stop, stop." The collision mangled the front of the aircraft, tilting it upward, and toppled the truck onto its side amid scattered debris.

More than a dozen people were injured, including a Port Authority police sergeant and officer who suffered broken limbs but remained in stable condition at a hospital. At least four firefighters also sustained injuries, and several passengers were transported to Elmhurst Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. A female flight attendant was ejected from the aircraft but survived after rescue by Port Authority personnel.

LaGuardia Airport shut down immediately following the crash, with the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a ground stop that halted all arrivals and departures. Operations will not resume until at least 2 p.m. Monday, leading to the cancellation of 519 flights and diversions of 18 others to nearby airports. The New York Police Department closed all streets and highway exits to the airport, urging travelers to avoid the area.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced it is launching a go-team investigation, with Chair Jennifer Homendy serving as on-scene spokesperson alongside Member John DeLeeuw; the team arrived Monday morning. The FAA is also probing the runway incursion.

Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetral stated, "The Port Authority Police Department is on scene along with the agency’s Chairman and Executive Director. The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation." Jazz Aviation confirmed the details of Flight 8646 and passenger count, while Air Canada deferred to its partner airline's statement.

Emergency crews, including multiple fire trucks, responded swiftly, and photos showed the severely damaged nose section of the CRJ-900 on the rain-slicked runway. The investigation continues to determine how the fire truck entered the active runway path.