What began as a routine landing at LaGuardia Airport quickly turned into a serious incident, but a final action from the cockpit may have helped prevent a far worse outcome. An Air Canada Express flight was involved in a collision with a fire vehicle late Sunday night after landing, leading to a temporary shutdown of the airport. Authorities confirmed that both pilots lost their lives, while two emergency responders were injured. More than 70 passengers were onboard at the time.
Passengers described the moment the situation suddenly changed. One traveler recalled that shortly after landing, the aircraft jolted forward, followed by a loud impact and a feeling of sliding sideways. At first, many onboard were unsure of what had occurred, but concern quickly spread throughout the cabin. Amid the confusion, attention later turned to a critical action taken by the pilot, who reportedly initiated reverse thrust just before the collision.
This quick decision may have helped reduce the severity of the impact and contributed to protecting many of those onboard. Several passengers later described the pilots as courageous, recognizing their actions in a high-pressure moment. In the aftermath, one of the pilots was identified as a 30-year-old from Quebec who had pursued aviation from a young age, beginning flight training as a teenager and continuing to follow that path professionally.
Air traffic control recordings captured the tense moments leading up to the incident, including urgent instructions regarding activity on the runway, followed by confusion as events unfolded. The collision brought operations at LaGuardia to a halt for several hours, with emergency teams responding quickly and passengers left shaken. The event serves as a reminder of how rapidly unexpected situations can develop during routine travel.