MONTRÉAL, March 23, 2026 — A late-night flight departing Montréal-Trudeau International Airport ended in a devastating tragedy Sunday night, after an Air Canada Express jet collided with a fire truck while landing in New York—killing two pilots and leaving dozens injured in a harrowing crash now under intense investigation.
Air Canada Express Flight AC8646 took off from Montréal around 10 p.m. before slamming into the emergency vehicle at LaGuardia Airport at approximately 11:47 p.m.
There were 76 people on board. The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the impact, while 41 passengers and crew were rushed to the hospital. Most have since been released, though several remain seriously injured.
According to the Montreal Gazette, one of the victims of this heartbreaking tragedy has been identified as first officer Antoine Forest, 30, originally from Coteau-du-Lac, a small Quebec town on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional County Municipality.
A Miracle Survival
Amid the devastation, one story has stunned families across Québec. Flight attendant Solange Tremblay was violently ejected from the aircraft while still strapped into her seat, according to her daughter, Sarah Lépine, who spoke to the Montreal Gazette.
According to sources, Tremblay was thrown nearly 100 metres from the plane.
“It’s a miracle that my mother is alive,” Lépine told the Gazette.
Despite the unimaginable force of the crash, Tremblay survived but suffered multiple fractures to her leg and will require surgery. As of Monday morning, she remained in pain but was able to speak—offering a rare moment of hope in an otherwise tragic story.
Chaos on the Runway
Newly surfaced air traffic control audio is raising troubling questions about how the collision occurred.
In the recording, a controller can be heard briefly clearing the fire truck to enter the runway—before urgently shouting “stop, stop, stop.”
The aircraft struck the truck as it was responding to another emergency, turning a routine landing into a deadly disaster in seconds.
Investigation Underway
Authorities on both sides of the border—including the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board—are now investigating how a commercial passenger jet came to collide with an active emergency vehicle on one of the busiest runways in the United States.
Air Canada confirmed the deaths of the two pilots and expressed condolences to their families and colleagues.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,” reads a statement from Air Canada.
Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau posted a video statement about the tragic accident on social media:
Close to Home
For Montréalers, the tragedy is deeply personal. The flight originated in the city, and many passengers were local travellers heading to New York.
Air Canada has set up a dedicated hotline for friends and family members seeking information: 1-800-961-7099.
As investigators work to piece together the final moments before impact, stories like Tremblay’s survival stand in stark contrast to the loss—reminders of both the fragility and resilience of those caught in one of the most shocking aviation incidents in recent memory.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the Captain and the First Officer were killed in this accident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families.
Air Canada cannot confirm the exact number of injuries or if there are other fatalities at this time.
Emergency services are on site taking care of injured passengers, and some have been transported to local hospitals.
No further details are available at this time; however, Air Canada and Jazz will continue to issue regular updates as information becomes known.
Air Canada and Jazz Aviation teams are en route to the site and say more details will be provided in additional statements as soon as possible.
Air Canada and Jazz Aviation are cooperating with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States in the investigation of the cause of this incident.
Family and friends who need information about passengers on Air Canada Express flight AC8646 may telephone Air Canada at 1-800-961-7099.
photo by unknown onlooker on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport, New York
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