Plane splits in half after runway collision; casualties reported; everything blocked PHOTO/VIDEO

The CRJ-900 aircraft, arriving from Montreal, struck a vehicle at approximately 24 miles per hour just before midnight, according to flight tracking site Flightradar24.

The flight was operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada. Both Air Canada and Jazz Aviation have confirmed the incident.

“Flight 8646 was operating from Montreal (YUL) to LaGuardia (LGA). A preliminary passenger list indicates there were 72 passengers and 4 crew members on board, though this still needs confirmation. The incident occurred at approximately 23:47 on March 22, 2026,” Jazz Aviation stated.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency ground stop at La Guardia Airport, citing an emergency situation without providing further details.

According to the airport’s website, arriving flights have been diverted to other airports or returned to their departure points.

The Port Authority confirmed that the plane collided with a rescue and firefighting vehicle responding to another incident, and media reports soon confirmed that two people were killed.

According to an NBC News report, the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft were killed, while dozens of passengers were injured. The vehicle was reportedly operated by police officers.

Earlier reports indicated that a sergeant and a police officer sustained limb fractures and are in stable condition at the hospital.

“Around 23:40 on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation plane, operating on behalf of Air Canada, was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at La Guardia Airport, when it struck a Port Authority rescue and firefighting vehicle,” the statement reads.

It adds that emergency protocols were immediately activated and the airport was closed to allow for intervention and a detailed investigation.

The New York Fire Department and police confirmed they are responding to an incident involving a plane and a vehicle on the runway, but provided no further details.

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