March 26, 2026 (New York Time) — Newly released close-up images reveal the severe extent of the damage to the Air Canada aircraft following a fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport, showing the nose and cockpit nearly torn off completely.
The CRJ-900, operating as flight 8646 with 72 passengers and 4 crew members from Montreal, collided with a Port Authority fire truck on the runway at approximately 11:40 PM Sunday.
📌 Extent of Destruction
The images show:
- The entire nose and cockpit section completely destroyed
- Exposed wiring, internal structures, and walkways
- The front landing gear and wheels have almost entirely disappeared
- Severe damage to the front rows of passenger seats
The two pilots, Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, were killed instantly. Approximately 40 others were injured, including a flight attendant who survived after being thrown hundreds of feet. Two employees in the fire truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
📌 Events Leading to the Collision
Audio data from the air traffic control tower indicates:
- Both the fire truck and the aircraft were cleared to use the same runway
- The dispatcher realized the danger too late
In the recording, urgent warnings can be heard:
“Stop! Stop! Stop now!”
Later, a controller admitted the error:
“I messed up.”
📌 Initial Investigation
Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), stated:
- The night shift had only two people, each handling multiple tasks
- The fire truck was permitted to cross the runway exactly when the plane was landing
- The staff involved continued working for several minutes after the incident
She emphasized that it is too early to assign individual responsibility and noted that the investigation is examining multiple contributing factors.
📌 Current Status
The aircraft wreckage remains at the scene for evidence collection. Investigators are continuing to analyze data to determine the full cause of the accident.
