An Air Canada flight was involved in a collision with a ground vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on March 23, 2026, resulting in the airport’s immediate closure. The incident occurred at approximately 11:38 PM local time as an Air Canada Express regional jet, specifically a CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation, was landing from Montreal.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded swiftly by issuing a ground stop for all departures to LaGuardia due to the emergency situation. The airport is expected to remain closed until at least 05:30 GMT, with emergency management authorities warning travelers to expect cancellations, road closures, and significant traffic delays in the vicinity.
At the time of the collision, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 24 mph (39 km/h). Unverified footage from the scene showed damage to the plane’s nose as it tilted upwards, raising concerns about the extent of the incident.
In light of the situation, New York’s emergency management authority advised the public to “use alternate routes” to avoid the area around the airport. The FAA indicated that there is a high probability of an extension of the airport closure due to the ongoing emergency.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the extent of damage to both the aircraft and the ground vehicle involved in the collision. Additionally, the exact nature of the emergency that prompted the FAA’s ground stop has not been specified, leaving many questions unanswered as authorities continue to assess the situation.