Air Canada Flight AC8646 at LaGuardia: What Happened, Aircraft Specs, Investigation Status & Safety Analysis

Confirmed summary

According to Air Canada and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Air Canada Express Flight AC8646, operated by Jazz Aviation with a Mitsubishi CRJ900 from Montréal to New York LaGuardia, was involved in an accident on 22 March 2026 when the aircraft collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. Air Canada said the captain and first officer were killed, and the NTSB has opened a major investigation. Source Source

At a glance

72 Passengers on the preliminary list

4 Crew members listed by Air Canada

23:30 Approximate time of the accident

RWY 4 Runway identified by the NTSB

Passenger and crew totals remain preliminary. Injury totals and sequence details may change as the investigation develops.

The aircraft: Mitsubishi CRJ900

Air Canada Express CRJ-900 image used under Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons: view source image.

Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 / Mitsubishi CRJ900 regional jet — Air Canada Express CRJ-900 image used under Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons: view source image.

The aircraft type involved was identified by official sources as a Jazz Aviation Mitsubishi CRJ900, the current branding for the regional jet family originally developed by Bombardier. It is one of the best-known regional jet models in North American short- and medium-haul service and remains a core aircraft within the Air Canada Express regional network. Source Source

CRJ900 key published specifications

Maximum capacity	Up to 90 passengers
Typical dual-class layout	81 passengers
Range	1,550 nautical miles / 2,871 km
Maximum operating altitude	41,000 ft
Maximum cruise speed	Mach 0.82 / 470 knots
Engines	Two GE CF34-8C5 turbofans
Length	118 ft 11 in / 36.2 m
Wingspan	81 ft 7 in / 24.9 m

These figures are from the manufacturer’s CRJ900 factsheet and help explain why the aircraft became a staple of regional operations: it combines regional-airport flexibility with relatively high seating density, a 41,000-foot ceiling and a cruise profile that supports time-sensitive hub flying. Source

CRJ family history

MHIRJ describes the CRJ Series as the aircraft family that helped start the regional jet revolution. The company says the series has set the standard in the segment for more than 25 years, with over 1,300 regional jets in service, nearly 190 operators in 57 countries and more than 1,900 orders across the broader CRJ family. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries closed its acquisition of the CRJ Series Program from Bombardier in 2020, which is why newer official references use Mitsubishi or MHIRJ branding even though the aircraft is still widely known as the Bombardier CRJ900. Source Source

Operator and route context

Air Canada said Flight AC8646 was operated by Jazz Aviation LP under the Air Canada Express brand and originated in Montréal. Search results from Air Canada’s fleet page also identify the CRJ900 fleet as an Air Canada Express type operated by Jazz. Source Source

Operator: Jazz Aviation Brand: Air Canada Express Route: Montréal to New York LaGuardia Aircraft type: CRJ900

Airport context: LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia Runway 4-22 image used under Creative Commons via Wikimedia Commons: view source image.

LaGuardia’s official airport site describes the airport as a major passenger facility serving New York City, while the FAA airport diagram shows that the airport operates two primary runways: 04/22 and 13/31. Both are listed at 7,002 feet long and 150 feet wide on the current FAA diagram. Source Source

Airport	New York LaGuardia (LGA)
Runway identified by NTSB	Runway 4
FAA runway pair	04/22
Runway 04/22 dimensions	7,002 ft × 150 ft
Other main runway	13/31

Preliminary timeline of what we know

22 March 2026 — Montréal departure Air Canada said AC8646 originated in Montréal and was operated by Jazz Aviation under the Air Canada Express brand. Source

Approximately 23:30 local time — accident at LaGuardia Air Canada said the accident occurred at approximately 11:30 pm on arrival in New York LaGuardia. Source

Runway 4 collision with a fire truck The NTSB’s investigation page states that the CRJ900 collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Source

Immediate response and investigation launch Air Canada said emergency services responded at the scene and that the airline and Jazz were cooperating with the U.S. NTSB and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Source

Investigation now underway The NTSB said investigators were en route to document the wreckage, collect evidence and interview witnesses. A preliminary factual report is expected within 30 days, with a final report expected in 12 to 24 months. Source

What is confirmed vs what is still being examined

Confirmed by official statements

Flight AC8646 was an Air Canada Express service operated by Jazz Aviation from Montréal to LaGuardia.
The aircraft type was a CRJ900.
The accident happened on 22 March 2026 at approximately 11:30 pm.
The aircraft collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia.
Air Canada said the captain and first officer were killed.

Still under investigation

The exact sequencing of air traffic control, runway access and vehicle movement.
The final injury count and medical severity across all occupants and responders.
Any contributing technical, operational, procedural or human-factor issues.
The final probable cause, which the NTSB says will only come in the final report.

For an aviation audience, this distinction matters: early accident reporting often changes quickly, while the NTSB’s final causal findings can take many months.

Investigation focus: NTSB and cross-border coordination

The NTSB says all aspects of the accident remain under investigation. Air Canada separately said that both Air Canada and Jazz are cooperating with the U.S. NTSB and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. That cross-border element is typical because the operator is Canadian and the accident site is in the United States. Source Source

Key safety questions likely to matter

How the fire truck entered or remained on Runway 4 during aircraft movement.
Whether signage, hold-short protection, stop-bar procedures or radio coordination failed.
How surface movement situational awareness worked for controllers, vehicle crews and flight crew.
Whether emergency-response urgency created operational compression or communication overload.

Why this accident matters beyond one flight

Runway collisions and incursions remain among the most serious low-altitude airport risks because they can occur in seconds and leave little room for recovery. In practical terms, this case will likely draw attention to airport vehicle access control, controller-vehicle phraseology, runway occupancy alerts and how busy airports protect active landing surfaces during simultaneous emergency responses. Those are the kinds of operational lessons that often outlast the headline itself.

FAQ

What caused the AC8646 accident?

The final cause has not yet been determined. What is confirmed is that the aircraft collided with a fire truck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia; the NTSB says all aspects of the accident remain under investigation. Source

Which aircraft was involved?

Air Canada identified it as a Jazz Aviation Mitsubishi CRJ900, the updated branding for the CRJ900 family originally developed by Bombardier. Source Source

How many people were on board?

Air Canada said the preliminary passenger list showed approximately 72 passengers and four crew members, subject to confirmation. Source

What official investigation timeline should readers expect?

The NTSB says a preliminary factual report is expected within 30 days of the accident, while a final report with probable cause and contributing factors is expected in roughly 12 to 24 months. Source

Flight	Air Canada Express AC8646
Operator	Jazz Aviation LP
Origin	Montréal
Destination	New York LaGuardia
Aircraft	Mitsubishi CRJ900
Airport runway	Runway 4
Official U.S. case page	NTSB investigation