LaGuardia in crisis: Over 100 hurt after Air Canada plane smashes fire truck PHOTO/VIDEO

Operations at New York’s LaGuardia Airport were suspended on March 22, following a collision between an arriving Air Canada Express CRJ-900 and a ground vehicle on Runway 4. The aircraft, operating a service from Montreal, reportedly struck a fire truck during landing, The News Trending reports.

🚨 UPDATE: Queens, NY — LaGuardia Airport on runway 4 escalates:

FDNY reports 5 red tag firefighters and over 100 passengers injured.

Heavy ARFF deployment continues (foam ops, satellites, FAST team); runway closed, mass casualty protocols active. Airport shut down; more… https://t.co/4EJh30DHEj pic.twitter.com/Tx2MXvwIYF

— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) March 23, 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that LaGuardia has been closed and a ground stop issued after the collision. Arriving flights were either diverted to other airports or returned to their points of origin, according to the airport’s website.

In a separate notice to airmen, the FAA indicated that the airport could remain closed until 1800 GMT, warning of prolonged disruption. Earlier, the regulator had imposed a ground stop for all flights until 0530 GMT, citing an emergency, and noted that the restriction was likely to be extended, though further details were not provided.

Audio circulating alongside preliminary visual reconstructions suggests that air traffic control repeatedly instructed both the aircraft crew and the ground vehicle to halt moments before the impact.

Unconfirmed reports citing the New York Fire Department stated that five firefighters and over 100 passengers were injured in the incident. Initial reports indicated multiple injuries, with some described as critical, though details remain provisional. Heavy deployment of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel continues at the airport.

The FAA subsequently issued a ground stop for all flights as emergency services responded and investigations into the circumstances of the incident began. The plane sustained significant damage, and authorities are assessing the runway and surrounding infrastructure before normal operations can resume.

By Vafa Guliyeva