After the crash, US aviation authorities ordered all flights at LaGuardia Airport to be grounded. Officials warned there was a high chance the shutdown would last for a long time.
The port authority later confirmed that the airport would remain closed until at least 1800 GMT. Passengers were advised to expect cancellations, delays, and traffic problems around the airport area.
New York’s emergency management team also warned people to avoid the area if possible and use other routes.
The National Transportation Safety Board is on site. The airport will remain closed until at least 2:00pm Monday 3/23/26 to allow for a thorough investigation.
— LaGuardia Airport (@LGAairport) March 23, 2026
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a special investigation team, known as a “go team”, to examine the crash. They will study what went wrong and whether safety rules were followed.
Pilots Killed After Air Canada Plane Strikes Fire Truck at NYC’s LaGuardia Airport, Multiple Other Injuries Reported ... 11:49:04 PM EDT ... March 22, 2026
March 23, 2026
4:15:29 AM EDT
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) personnel are responding to LaGuardia… pic.twitter.com/XYLfaeOuWU— SubX.News® (@SubxNews) March 23, 2026
#BREAKING: Air Canada Flight AC8646 That Departed From Montréal Airport (YUL) Crashes Into Airport Fire Truck Taxiing On Runway At📍LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York — Two Deceased. Pilots And Firefighters With Life-Threatening Injuries.🙏
pic.twitter.com/ap3UnBgHiP— 401_da_sarpanch (@401_da_sarpanch) March 23, 2026
Authorities said the airport was closed to allow a full and careful investigation.
Before the accident, LaGuardia Airport was already dealing with flight delays due to poor weather. There were also longer waiting times at security checks because of staff shortages linked to a federal funding lapse.
LaGuardia is one of the busiest airports in New York. It handled about 33.5 million passengers in 2024. The airport recently completed a major $8 billion redevelopment project to improve its old infrastructure.
This crash adds to concerns about air safety in the United States. In January 2025, a deadly mid-air collision near Washington killed 67 people.
There have also been several close calls and accidents involving planes on the ground in recent years.
(With inputs from agencies)
