An air traffic controller admitted to making a grave error, stating, “I messed up,” after clearing a fire truck onto a runway and then desperately trying to stop it. Moments later, it collided with an Air Canada jet at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. This terrifying incident led to the deaths of two pilots and injured dozens of passengers, sending shockwaves through the air travel community.
The Air Canada Flight was coming in for a landing when it struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle. The director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed at a press conference that the pilot and first officer were killed in the collision. Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, said, calling “the loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 … a profound tragedy.”
The flight, originating from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, had 72 passengers and four crew members onboard. Following the impact, a staggering 41 passengers and crew members were rushed to the hospital. Per NPR, nine individuals remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Thankfully, the two officers inside the Port Authority fire truck were reported to be in stable condition with no life-threatening injuries.
It was a mistake with horrible consequences
Photos from the scene are pretty harrowing, showing the front of the passenger jet crumpled, its nose tilted upward, and debris scattered across the tarmac. The damaged emergency vehicle was also lying on its side nearby.
The fire truck was actually on the runway responding to a separate “odor” incident involving a United Airlines plane. Any vehicle moving on runways or taxiways at the airport must have clearance from the tower. On an audio feed from LiveATC.net, you can clearly hear an air traffic controller granting clearance to the vehicle, then quickly and repeatedly calling for it to stop.
Newly surfaced air traffic control audio is offering fresh insight into the deadly runway collision involving an Air Canada flight at LaGuardia Airport.
— A Slice Of Naija (@asliceofnaija) March 23, 2026
The recordings capture critical communication moments before the aircraft struck an emergency vehicle while landing. The… pic.twitter.com/HWu9aLee8P
Not long after, another voice on the feed noted that the airport would be closing, adding that the collision “wasn’t good to watch.” The original controller then confessed, “I tried to reach out to them, I stopped them. We were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up.”
Condolences poured in from leaders on both sides of the border. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the collision as “deeply saddening,” stating that transportation safety officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts. President Trump, when asked about the incident, called it “terrible,” adding, “They made a mistake. It’s a dangerous business.”
The crash at LaGuardia Airport was such an avoidable incident.
— Israel Lannister (@israelinity) March 23, 2026
This incident only adds to the recent woes for air travelers. The ongoing partial government shutdown has significantly impacted airport operations, especially with many Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay. This has unfortunately led to longer security lines at airports nationwide, as many officers have either quit or called out from work.
To address these staffing issues, the Trump administration announced over the weekend that it would be sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at unspecified airports across the country.
