On March 22, an Air Canada Express flight arriving from Montréal collided with a firefighting vehicle on the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA). The crash resulted in the deaths of two pilots and left 41 injured.
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ900, was operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express banner. Its parent company, Chorus, confirmed the accident in a statement on March 23. According to reports, the emergency vehicle was on the runway responding to an unrelated incident involving a different aircraft when the collision occurred.
A statement on the LGA website said the airport has been closed. “ The FAA and NTSB ( The National Transportation Safety Board ) will investigate. The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates,” The US Federal Aviation Administration said on March 23.
“The entire Chorus family is mourning the loss of our Jazz colleagues,” said Colin Copp, President and Chief Executive Officer at Chorus. “Chorus is standing firmly behind the Jazz team, ensuring they have every support necessary as they look after those affected by this tragedy.”
Jazz said it is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities. Meanwhile, the airline is continuing to operate its regularly scheduled flights.
According to media reports, the plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. Reports said the US faces shortages of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers resulting from the partial government shut down that started 14 February 2026.
According to the Chorus website, the firm operates 106 aircraft and has over 4,500 employees. Jazz Aviation is the largest regional airline in Canada. The firm also provides speciality charter services and aerospace engineering and certification services.