Air Canada Express jet collides with ground vehicle, forcing closure of New York's LaGuardia airport

WASHINGTON: An Air Canada Express jet struck a ground vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday, resulting in injuries and forcing the temporary closure of the busy airport.

Incident and injuries

The collision between the Air Canada Express aircraft and a ground vehicle took place at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, on March 23, 2026. According to NBC, four people were injured in the incident, including the plane's pilots.

Photographs taken in the aftermath of the accident showed visible damage to the nose of the aircraft, which was tilted upward. Emergency crews were seen working around the jet following the collision.

Airport closure

As a result of the incident, LaGuardia Airport was closed and was expected to remain shut until 2pm Eastern Time on Monday. The closure of one of New York City's major airports was likely to cause significant disruption to flights in and out of the metropolitan area.

Emergency response

Emergency crews responded to the scene promptly and were photographed working around the damaged Air Canada Express jet at the airport. Reuters captured images of the response effort, showing personnel surrounding the aircraft in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

Further details regarding the circumstances that led to the collision between the jet and the ground vehicle, the severity of the injuries sustained by the four individuals including the pilots, and the type of ground vehicle involved were not immediately available from the initial reports.

LaGuardia Airport, located in the borough of Queens, is one of three major airports serving the New York City metropolitan area. Air Canada Express operates regional flights on behalf of Air Canada, providing connections to various destinations across North America.

The incident is expected to draw scrutiny from aviation safety authorities as investigations into the cause of the ground collision get underway. Ground vehicle incidents at airports, while relatively uncommon, pose serious safety risks to both aircraft and personnel operating on the tarmac.

An Air Canada Express jet collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in New York, injuring four people including the pilots and forcing the airport's closure until 2pm ET on Monday.