On Sunday, March 22, a Jazz Aviation Mitsubishi CRJ-900 collided with an airport emergency vehicle shortly after landing on Runway 4 at New York LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilot and co-pilot.
Flight 8646, operated by Air Canada Express, originated in Montréal and was carrying 72 passengers and 4 crew members.
In an official statement, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials confirmed that the Captain and the First Officer were killed in this accident. “At approximately 11:40 pm on Sunday, a Jazz Aviation flight operating on behalf of Air Canada was involved in an incident on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in which the aircraft struck a Port Authority Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle that was responding to a separate incident.”
Preliminary reports indicated that the ARFF vehicle involved was responding to a cabin-odor incident onboard a United Airlines aircraft when the collision occurred.
Images from the scene show that the collision destroyed the cockpit and forward galley sections of the CRJ-900 aircraft.
LaGuardia Airport was immediately closed following the accident and began reopening at a reduced capacity on the afternoon of March 23.
“Today is an incredibly difficult day for our airline, our employees, and most importantly, the families and loved ones of those affected by the accident involving Flight 8646,” said Doug Clarke, President, Jazz Aviation LP. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of our two pilots and our unwavering support to those who have been injured.”
Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, International(ALPA), issued the following statement after the incident: “The loss of our two fellow crewmembers onboard Flight 8646 is a profound tragedy. These pilots dedicated their careers to the safe transport of passengers, and we are all thinking of their families, loved ones, and colleagues at Jazz Aviation during this devastating time.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators arrived at LaGuardia Airport early on March 23, and the U.S. agency will lead the investigation. ALPA’s accident investigation team is on scene assisting the NTSB with its work, and their Critical Incident Response Program is working to support ALPA members and the families involved.
