Mar 26, 2026 - Runway 4 at New York’s LaGuardia Airport reopened Thursday after crews cleared the wreckage of an Air Canada Express regional jet that collided with a fire truck on Sunday night.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and federal investigators removed the mangled CRJ900 aircraft and the Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle from the runway surface. Officials confirmed the runway returned to service following completion of debris removal and initial site work by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The collision occurred around 11:40 p.m. Sunday when Air Canada Express Flight 8646, operating from Montreal with 72 passengers and four crew members aboard, struck the fire truck while landing. The truck had crossed onto the runway while responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight that aborted departure due to a reported foul odor. Both pilots of the Air Canada jet were killed, and dozens of passengers and crew sustained injuries. Two firefighters aboard the truck were also injured.
LaGuardia Airport, one of the busiest in the New York metropolitan area, closed both runways immediately after the incident, halting all operations for several hours. One perpendicular runway reopened Monday afternoon, allowing limited flights to resume at reduced capacity. The airport advised passengers of expected delays and cancellations throughout the week. Runway 4, which handles a significant portion of arrivals and departures, remained closed until the wreckage clearance on Thursday.
The NTSB continues its investigation into the cause of the crash, examining factors including air traffic control communications, runway status lighting systems, and procedures for emergency vehicle movements on active runways. Preliminary information indicated the runway status lights were functioning at the time, though verification remains ongoing. The agency has not released a timeline for completion of the full probe.
The incident disrupted travel for thousands of passengers at LaGuardia, which serves millions of travelers annually with routes across the United States and Canada. Airlines adjusted schedules, and some flights were diverted to other regional airports during the closure period.
As of Thursday afternoon, LaGuardia Airport operated with both runways available, though officials warned of potential lingering delays as airlines recovered from earlier disruptions. The NTSB team remained on site to gather additional evidence from the cleared runway area.
